Europe objects to Amazon’s purchase of “iRobot” vacuum cleaners

The European Commission said that it believes that e-commerce giant Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot, a company that produces robotic vacuum cleaners, poses a potential threat to competition.

In a statement, the Commission expressed its objections to the American company, stating that following the acquisition, Amazon will have the economic interest and opportunity to obstruct iRobot’s competitors. She said Amazon’s marketplace is a particularly important sales channel for competitors in Germany.

In an initial reaction, Amazon said: “We continue to work through the process with the European Commission and are focused on responding to its questions and any specific concerns at this stage.”

It is noteworthy that iRobot, which faces intense competition, provides practical and innovative products. She added: “We believe that Amazon can provide a company like iRobot with the resources to accelerate innovation and invest in important features while lowering prices.”