India Eyes Global Drone Market Share Amidst Growing Concerns Over Chinese DJI Dominance

India is positioning itself to become a major player in the global drone market, aiming to challenge the long-standing dominance of Chinese tech giant DJI. This move comes amidst growing concerns over security and data privacy related to DJI's products.

Industry experts predict the global drone market will soar to $50 billion by 2025, fueled by diverse applications across agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, and more. India, with its vast agricultural sector and expanding infrastructure needs, presents a lucrative market for drone technology.

However, security concerns surrounding DJI's alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party have raised alarms worldwide. These concerns have intensified the demand for a reliable and independent alternative, prompting India to seize the opportunity to develop its own drone industry.

A thriving Indian drone sector would not only reduce the nation's reliance on Chinese technology but also bolster national security and foster self-reliance in critical areas. Additionally, increased competition could spur innovation, leading to more advanced and affordable drone solutions for consumers and businesses alike.

The Indian government, along with private investors, is playing a pivotal role in nurturing the nascent drone industry. Investments in research and development, coupled with supportive policies, are expected to accelerate the growth of Indian drone startups.

While challenges remain, including bridging the technological gap with established players like DJI, the Indian drone industry is poised for significant growth. As the demand for drones continues to rise, India's entry into the market could reshape the landscape and usher in a new era of innovation and competition.

 

[Bhishma]

DJI drone technology is advance especially in civilian use nor multi purpose.... India is still in infancy and can't compete of its own.... If we want a drone industry we should totally ban DJI or let them flood the market while we reverse engineering and studying it😹...

plus one of the main key factor is India doesn't have reliable semiconductor nodes/ foundry...

we already had tons of software engineer here... We just need $$$$ for funding it

only an idi0t would think DJI drone is hitech. there are enthusiasts building things like DJI in a DIY project. plenty of YT channels out there showing how to build hobby drones. India doesnt have to compete with DJI.

semiconductors are coming up in India. we have realized it is critical tech and building up capability. it will be here in 1-2 years I guess.

 

[Bhishma]

Vast ghost towns. So you'd rather have a dysfunctional politico administrative system and a pathetic industrial and internationally uncompetitive technological and scientific space than empty apartments. This is what Americans call copium. Jerking off exclusively to market forces won't facilitate industrial development that fact that you believe that says that you either don't know or willfully obtuse to how countries like Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, S.Korea, Germany, Turkey, Israel and finally Chin Industrialized to their current standing. I suggest you read a book. Start with Vivek Chibber's work on why India failed at planning, read books on Park Chung He quite a few starting with one titled "Park Chung He Era", There is a book written on Zhu Rongji(can't recall the name), Li kuo Ting has written a book, another one on Taiwan titled "Global Taiwan" is a reasonable read, lots of article on jstor on how the Kuomintang turned to its Leninist roots post losing the mainland, The role of people like Fred Terman in setting up KAIST in Korea and Hsinchu Science Park in Taiwan. Instead of regurgitating Anglo liberal f3tishes you might wanna study the Rhine and East Asia in equal measure and pick and choose the necessary sacrifices needed to make and further a nation's industrial, technological and scientific ascendance, which is never a destination but a perpetual journey.

all of this eyewash. Chinese model is nothing to emulate. your country is heading into bankruptcy. what exactly is this "industrialisation" ? an unsustainable slave labour economy meant to satisfy the greed of white man. no thanks, we dont want that bull$hit. you can have all of it.

 

[Leo red]

India can also rally our commonwealth cousin's around the globe too to promote inter trade

U mean team of slaves enjoying company under British empire.
best is to let this cousins go and look for others. We need strong Alphas like US or BRICS and not slaves in our team.

 

[Leo red]

Firstly, regarding API. Import of API overall into India has actually fell last year thanks to the PLI. And even from China, the growth rate has come down from 19% to 1%, which is not even enough to offset inflation.

Secondly, regarding centralization. While it has its own benefits, it has its cons as well. Say, the vast ghost towns. Even in bullet trains, it is said that most of the lines in China are massively loss making, not even able to service their debts. These are all made to impress the central leadership but are not economically feasible. It happens sometimes in India too, but overall we trust the market forces more, which helps in the long run.

Bhai isliye economics important hai.
18 trillion GDP me kuch billions loss nuts jesa ho ta hai. And looses in business is good till it survives. There are many houses in US where there is no buyer. Still banks are happy.

 

[Akshat]

Even if they somehow manage to produce 50% of the component we are still irrelevant.

Height of inferiority complex. They are great even at 50% and we are irrelevant despite reaching 75%.

 

[Akshat]

Image sensors make up one part of the drone. There a a lot of components not to mention manufacturing processes involved that are beyond the capabilities of most Indian companies and workers.

Then you are not aware of the capabilities of Indian companies and workers bro.

 

[Akshat]

Wake me up when Micromax or Lava become Mobile Making behemoths by assembling from components made in China.

oh, sorry.

I remember now - both Micromax and Lava mobiles are dead brands today.

Reason - No captive R&D to set their products apart in a cut-throat competitive and over saturated mobile market.

well.

perhaps, brand alone does not matter.

Were they ever a brand to begin with?

Yes, R&D or the designing process surely matters. But by no means does that mean that you have to make everything on your own. Look at Apple, for example. Camera, screen, processor, everything is outsourced or at least it was till just a couple of years back). It doesn’t even assemble it themselves. All those components make up some 15% of the cost. Branding and sales make up the rest, and most of the profits go to Apple.

Or conversely, you can look at Nokia or Motorola. They had captive R&D. And brand as well. But none of that worked.

Or look at Chinese smartphone makers. They all started by using components whose tech was given by US companies.

Any company can rise or go bust. But the one whose brand is stamped on the product will make the greatest profit. And making profits while you can is the best strategy.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Japan's efforts predate the 1980s. You are confusing Japanese and Chinese political systems with India's. That's the equivalent of comparing a Nexon EV to an Ambassador(any model). The fact that India is a federal democracy with dysfunctionaly useless regional states just underlines why India will NEVER match up to Malaysia let alone China. We would have to restructure our political system, strengthen our Central govt, cut down our state government's man power and tax collection abilities and redistribute their man power to municipal govts(look up the share of employees working in central, state and local Govt's in India, China and USA jstor has a free article from D Kapur about why Indian states fail and succeed). Unlike in other countries we need a stronger political central govt due to the prevalent diversity(China can afford economic federalism but it's constituent provincial Govt's are still answerable to the State Council) nd prevent parasitic secessionist strains

I was specifically talking about japanese automotive industry. Companies like honda, toyota etc became global giants in 80s and 90s. Much like how chinese EV companiess like BYD, Geely etc have become global giants.

What you are saying about indian model having useless state govts, not enoigh centralisation etc. It is not necessarily a bad thing. In past 10 years we have seen good growth, even though global conditions have been terrible.

Also, authoritarian centralised countries have a period of explosive growth. Once this bubble bursts, serious problems follow. As happened in china, japan, south korea, hong kong. Decentralisation is a good thing actually. States have better understanding of local industries, issues etc. It is just that India is stuck in socialist mindset.

States like gujarat, tamil nadu have done excellently in industrial development. Even though they had little help from central govt.

 

[Akshat]

Bhai isliye economics important hai.
18 trillion GDP me kuch billions loss nuts jesa ho ta hai. And looses in business is good till it survives. There are many houses in US where there is no buyer. Still banks are happy.

Indeed, your comment shows why knowledge is important. Not just of economics, but also of finance and mathematics. And a bit of history.

First, lets talk about history. While it is true that India has fallen well behind China, the fact remains that India's fastest growth rates came when India started opening it's economy. And our lowest rates came when it was shut down during Indira Gandhi's period. That autocratic authoritarian socialist rule is the dark phase of Indian history, when business and economy is considered.

Now, about the 18 Trillion amount. If you had read economics and finance, you would know that the actual amount is seldom the holy grail. It's the growth rate that matters. Taking China's own GDP into account, it was about 75% of US in 2020, but has now fallen to about 63% (exact numbers can be slightly different but there is a 10% or more of fall). Their economy has grown in Yuan terms but not in dollar terms. This is mostly due to devaluation, but it has also to do with the slower than expected growth of China and faster than expected growth of US. Even India has gone up from about 14% of China in 2020 to 21% this year.

Any economy, however large it is, won't be called as the Alpha unless and until it grows. Look at Japan. Once it was considered a rival to US. But years of static nature has led China to surpass it and now even India is poised to surpass it. And US is not even in their sight anymore. And that is why banks in US are happy - because US is growing.

And another thing about China. While a few empty houses don't matter, they would matter a lot more when they were built on debt and your economy suddenly stops growing. That means you have to pay the debt and borrow more without new revenues. That is something that is happening to China right now. Their economy is based on exports and debt fueled government expenditure. That is fine till a point but is eventually poised to burst. Market based economies on the other hand are fueled by consumption. That is far more sustainable and resilient in the long term.