European drone research firm DRONEII has released a new report naming the top drone manufacturers in the world.   While the number one company won’t surprise anyone, the second two may be less obvious.

The research assessed over 400 drone manufacturers.  A summary written by DRONEII Senior Analyst Lukas Schroth says that prosumer multirotors rule the space:

The top positions in the ranking are occupied by manufacturers of multirotor drones in the prosumer sector, namely drones up to a price of $10,000 USD. These companies are already serving a broad market and are therefore able to scale their business.

These prosumer solutions are followed by numerous platforms which address niche applications or specific market needs, such as energy or construction.

The Top Drone Manufacturers

In the commercial market, DRONEII says that DJI still reigns supreme.  DJI is not only number one in the world, the company holds by some estimates a stunning 70% of the total global market.  Despite recent trade headwinds in the U.S., the total number of DJI drones in the air dwarfs those of any other manufacturer. “In the commercial prosumer market, there is no way around DJI, which can maintain its supremacy in the commercial prosumer market through innovative products and smart strategic partnerships,” says the summary.

U.S.-based manufacturers still haven’t made the top spots on the prosumer list.  The number 2 drone manufacturer is another Chinese manufacturer, Yuneec; number 3 is French drone manufacturer Parrot. “China shows its dominance with seven companies in the top 20 ranking of the world’s commercial drone manufacturers,” writes Schroth.

Dual Use Drones

When it comes to the military market – which occasionally crosses over to the enterprise – the list changes.  The number one provider of what DRONEII refers to as “dual use” drones is U.S.-based Aerovironment, which saw a 17% increase in revenues this year; #2 is Boeing subsidiary Insitu.  Israel’s Aeronautics comes in third.

Despite some efforts to provide cross-over products for the commercial market, solutions manufactured by these providers are largely designed for the military market rather than the strictly civilian sector.  However, Schroth points out, that has led to big sales: “Manufacturers in the dual-use segment often show a strong tendency towards the military market. In the past, companies in this sector were often able to conclude contracts worth millions with defense or other governmental ministries.”

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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