Analysis of the Impact of Patent Disputes Between Ecovacs and Roborock on European Market Share

In October 2025, the Munich First Regional Court in Germany issued two consecutive temporary injunction rulings for patent infringement against Chinese robot vacuum cleaner company Ecovacs and its German subsidiary, with Roborock as the applicant in both cases. The patents involved in the two cases are the

and patents [1].

• Prohibit Ecovacs from selling, importing, using the involved products and infringing accessories in Germany
• Require Ecovacs to hand over the involved products in Germany
• Violators will face a maximum fine of 250,000 euros
• Bear all procedural costs [1]

This incident highlights that the patent competition among Chinese robot vacuum cleaner companies in overseas markets has escalated from a ‘price war’ to a ‘patent war’, which will have a far-reaching impact on the strategic layout of both parties in the European market.

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According to IDC data, the global robot vacuum cleaner market shipped 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 18.7%.

, accounting for more than half of the global market share combined [2][3].

The European market is dominated by three players:

:

Brand	Position in European Market	2025 Black Friday Performance	Core Advantages
Dreame	Ranked first in Europe, with 27% share in Western Europe Q1	GMV YoY growth over 90%	Product differentiation, channel refinement
Roborock	Leading in mature markets like Germany and Norway; actively expanding into Southwest Europe	Sales YoY growth of 59%	Localized operations, high-end product line
Ecovacs	Focuses on Central and Western Europe via offline partnerships	Not disclosed	Offline channel cooperation, supply chain localization

Europe was once an important revenue source for iRobot, but in Q3 2025, its revenue in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region fell by 13%-14% year-on-year, and it has downgraded the region to a ‘low-priority market’ [4]. The market gap left by iRobot’s active contraction has been quickly divided among the three major Chinese brands.

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• Ban on Sales in Germany
  : As one of Ecovacs’ core markets in Europe, the temporary injunction in Germany will directly cause short-term sales disruption
• Inventory Pressure
  : Need to hand over involved products in Germany, resulting in direct economic losses
• Brand Reputation Damage
  : May create a negative impression among European consumers

Ecovacs can respond through the following ways:

• Product Modification
  : Launch new models that do not involve patent infringement
• Patent Invalidity Lawsuit
  : File a request for invalidation of the involved patents
• Cross-Licensing Negotiation
  : Negotiate patent licensing cooperation with Roborock

• Market Share Increase
  : During Ecovacs’ restriction period, Roborock is expected to gain some market share in Germany
• Enhanced Brand Influence
  : Successful patent protection helps improve its technical image

• Counterclaim Risk
  : Ecovacs may file a counterclaim against Roborock
• Litigation Costs
  : Continuous overseas litigation will consume significant resources
• Industry Alert
  : May trigger patent layout countermeasures from other competitors

2025年Q4欧洲市场份额预判（科沃斯受限期间）：

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Dreame:        26-28%  (Biggest Beneficiary) │
│ Roborock:      22-24%  (Steady Growth)       │
│ Ecovacs:       12-15%  (Short-term Decline)  │
│ Other Brands:  35-38%  (iRobot etc. Shrinking)│
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

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• Expansion of European Patent Jurisdiction
  : In February 2025, the European Court of Justice’s interpretation of the Brussels I bis Regulation in the Bosch Home Appliances v. Electrolux case extended the effect of injunctions from the Unified Patent Court to non-signatory countries of the Unified Patent Court Agreement such as the UK and Spain [1]
• Enforcement Efficiency of Injunctions
  : As one of Europe’s largest consumer markets, Germany has strong enforcement of injunctions

• Channel Layout Differences
  : Ecovacs focuses on offline cooperation, while Roborock emphasizes online and localized operations; the patent dispute has a greater impact on offline channels
• Product Substitutability
  : Consumers have limited brand loyalty to robot vacuum cleaners, and there are sufficient alternative products

• Patent Arms Race
  : Both parties may accelerate patent layout in Europe to form patent barriers
• Industry Consolidation Trend
  : Such disputes may accelerate industry consolidation, and small and medium-sized enterprises face greater competitive pressure

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The impact of the patent dispute between Ecovacs and Roborock on European market share shows the characteristics of

:

• Short-term (6-12 months)
  : Ecovacs will face significant share loss in Germany, expected to drop from about 15% to around 12%; Roborock is expected to gain some incremental share but needs to face countermeasures from Ecovacs
• Medium-term (1-2 years)
  : The two parties may reach a patent cross-licensing agreement or settlement, and the market pattern tends to stabilize
• Long-term (over 2 years)
  : The patent dispute will promote both parties to strengthen technological innovation, and competition in the European market will shift from ‘price + channel’ to comprehensive competition of ‘technology + patent’

For investors focusing on the robot vacuum cleaner industry:

• Roborock
  takes the initiative in patent competition, and its leading position in the European market is expected to be consolidated
• Ecovacs
  is under short-term pressure but has advantages in offline channels and supply chain localization, and its medium-to-long-term competitiveness remains
• Dreame
  , as the new leader in the European market, is expected to be the biggest beneficiary

• The patent dispute may escalate further, involving more product models and markets
• Changes in the policy environment of the European market may affect the access of Chinese brands
• Exchange rate fluctuations and tariff adjustments will affect the profits of export-oriented enterprises

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[1] Zhong Lun Law Firm - ‘Touchstone of the Brussels Regulation: A Look at the Complex Reality of European Patent Jurisdiction from the Bosch Home Appliances v. Electrolux Case’ (https://www.zhonglun.com/research/articles/55328.html)

[2] IDC - ‘Chinese Brands Take Top Five Positions: Global Robot Vacuum Cleaner Shipment Data for the First Three Quarters of 2025 Released’ (https://my.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prCHC53972025)

[3] Sina Finance - ‘Rise of Chinese Robot Vacuum Cleaner Brands: Five Giants Including Roborock and Ecovacs Reshape the Global Pattern’ (https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2025-12-08/doc-inhaamff3971528.shtml)

[4] The Paper - ‘The Originator of Robot Vacuum Cleaners: Who Killed It?’ (https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32193520)