GoPro has announced that after numerous struggles the company will be exiting the drone business.
GoPro’s Karma drone was introduced in the fall of 2016. This fly-along drone was fraught with issues that saw it grounded shortly after launch.
GoPro recalled the first-generation Karma after only 16 days on the market citing “intermittent power failures during operation.”
When the redesigned Karma was finally released, its limited functionality and a steep price tag of $799/£719 (without a GoPro camera) made it a less appealing option than competing products, such as the more affordable DJI Spark.
GoPro noted in its recent earnings report that although the Karma was able to reach the number two position in its price point, a combination of factors including stiff competition and “a hostile regulatory environment in Europe and the United States” would limit the size of the drone market in the coming years.
“These factors make the aerial market untenable and GoPro will exit the market after selling its remaining Karma inventory,” the company stated in its earnings report.
GoPro plans to continue offering service and support to Karma customers.
