Autel Robotics

Autel Robotics

Autel Robotics is a Shenzhen-based manufacturer of consumer and commercial unmanned aerial vehicles. The company sells across photography, public safety, enterprise inspection, and military-adjacent markets. It was formerly a subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Technology (AIT) and was spun off when AIT went public in 2020.

Key Products

EVO II Series — A family of foldable quadcopters available in multiple sensor configurations, including visible, thermal, and dual-sensor variants, marketed primarily to law enforcement, fire, and inspection users.

EVO Max 4N — A multi-sensor enterprise platform with starlight vision and AI-based tracking, aimed at night-operations and public safety use cases.

Dragonfish — A fixed-wing VTOL platform designed for extended-endurance ISR and surveying missions; promoted for use on moving vehicles and vessels.

Autel Integrated Command System — A ground-control and fleet-management software layer tied to Autel’s enterprise hardware.

Business and Funding

Autel Robotics is private. Headquarters are in Shenzhen, China, with R&D offices in Seattle, Munich, and Silicon Valley, and manufacturing in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The Vietnamese facility reportedly produces approximately 150,000 units annually of flagship products for the US market. Investors include Citic Securities Investment, Fortune Capital, Jundu Investment, Rongyan Touzi, and TI Capital. Reported revenue is approximately $128M. The company reportedly employs around 117 people in its US subsidiary; global headcount is not publicly disclosed.

Why It Matters

Autel gained significant US market share after DJI - its primary rival and also Chinese-headquartered - was placed on US government restricted lists, with Autel positioned as an alternative for domestic agencies. The company held an estimated 7% share of the US UAV market as of 2021, and that share has grown since DJI’s restrictions widened. But Autel has also faced scrutiny: US Capitol Police briefly operated Autel drones before retiring them over security concerns, and the company threatened legal action against an American Enterprise Institute researcher who called its products a national security risk. In 2025, +972 Magazine reported that Israeli forces used Autel EVO-series drones to drop grenades on civilians in Gaza; Autel said the use occurred without its knowledge or authorization. The company’s ability to capture US government and enterprise customers depends on how regulators ultimately treat Chinese-origin drone hardware.