Autel Robotics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerial drones |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Maxwell Lee, Li Hongjing |
| Headquarters | Seattle (American headquarters), Shenzhen (original) , China, United States |
Area served | International |
| Products | X-Star, Evo series (EVO Nano+, EVO Lite, EVO Lite+, EVO II V3, EVO Max, EVO Max T4), Dragonfish series (Dragonfish, Dragonfish Lite, Dragonfish Pro) |
Autel Robotics Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of aerial drones based in China.
History
Established in 2014 in Shenzhen by Maxwell Lee, a Chinese American businessman, alongside Li Hongjing, Autel Robotics has benefited from financial support provided by the Chinese government. The company introduced its inaugural drone model, the X-Star, in 2015 with an aim at international markets. Since then, it has expanded its portfolio to include prominent series such as Evo and Dragon Fish.
By the year 2021, Autel commanded approximately 7% of the drone market in the United States, a figure that grew following the imposition of U.S. governmental restrictions on its main rival DJI. Despite ongoing discussions regarding potential security implications, drones from both manufacturers are extensively utilized by U.S. governmental bodies and law enforcement agencies.
At the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas, Autel expressed its goal to outpace DJI in both technological innovation and market dominance. That same year, Autel considered pursuing legal measures against a researcher affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute after a Defense News opinion piece accused their products of posing national security threats.
In 2025, investigations uncovered that Israeli military forces deployed Autel EVO series drones fitted with grenade-launching devices during the conflict in Gaza. These drones were often obtained through crowdfunding efforts or donations originating from the U.S. Autel publicly denied granting permission for such applications.
Organization
Autel Robotics Co., Ltd. originated as a spin-off from Autel Intelligent Technology prior to the latter’s initial public offering.
As of 2023, the company maintained offices across China, Italy, Germany, Singapore, and the United States, with its American headquarters located in Seattle.
Products
- EVO Nano+, an ultra-lightweight drone
- EVO Lite, a compact drone equipped with a 4K camera that complies with exemptions from Remote ID regulations
- EVO Lite+, similar to EVO Lite but enhanced with a 5K camera
- Autel EVO II V3, recognized as the top-selling model in 2023
- Autel EVO Max, designed specifically for emergency response applications
- EVO Max T4, engineered to rival DJI’s offerings by featuring advanced autonomy, artificial intelligence integration, an open system architecture, and a standard thermal imaging camera
- Dragonfish, a fixed-wing drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)
- Dragonfish Lite, a smaller variant of the Dragonfish model
- Dragonfish Pro, a long-distance version within the Dragonfish lineup
Users
- U.S. Capitol Police utilized drones from Autel Robotics for a short period before discontinuing their use due to concerns related to security. The deployment of these drones attracted criticism from figures including Senator Ted Cruz, who highlighted national security risks.