British appliances firm Dyson says it will invest an extra £2.75bn ($3.67bn) in new technology over the next five years, as it aims to double the number of products it sells.
The injection will be focused on Singapore, where the company has been headquartered since last year, the Philippines and the UK. It hopes to add robotics, software and AI to its mostly household-oriented range, whose biggest sellers include vacuum cleaners, hairdryers and fans.
Dyson’s British investments will rest on developing its robotics and AI programs at its Hullavington Airfield Camps, in Wiltshire, while in Singapore it plans to unveil a new university research program. The Philippines, already a tech hub for many Asian brands, will be used as a software development center.
Dyson CEO Ronald Krueger said the move would open a “new chapter” for the company, founded by inventor James Dyson in 1991. “Now is the time to invest in new technologies such as energy storage, robotics and software which will drive performance and sustainability in our products for the benefit of Dyson’s customers,” he added.