On a winter morning in Rochester, New York, with temperatures near minus 30 degrees Celsius, the city remains dark. As one of the snowiest cities in the world, its streets are often buried under thick snowbanks. Residents emerge from their homes bundled in down jackets, scarves, gloves, and hats—only their eyes visible. Armed with shovels or snow blowers, they begin the daily routine of clearing snow.
Overnight accumulation often compacts and freezes, making it especially difficult to remove. Clearing a driveway or sidewalk to bare pavement can take upwards of 30 minutes.
While few people enjoy the task, snow removal in many parts of North America and Europe is a legal requirement. In the US, 39 of 50 states mandate timely snow clearance. Failing to comply can lead to fines or, in some cases, legal action.
The urgency of clearing snow in freezing conditions has spurred demand for equipment. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 70% of urban roads in the US are in snow-prone areas. Detached homes are common in these regions, meaning snow removal typically falls on the homeowner. Though used infrequently, snow shovels and blowers remain standard household tools.
But snow removal isn’t just inconvenient, it can also be dangerous. Prolonged exposure to cold and the physical strain of pushing heavy equipment pose real health risks. From 2003–2018, more than 90,000 people in the US were treated in emergency rooms for snow-related injuries, ranging from sprains and fractures to cardiac events and, in some cases, death.
In 2017, Yarbo founder Huang Yang was conducting overseas research on outdoor consumer products when he recognized the scale of the problem. Snow removal was clearly a necessary task, but the market lacked automated solutions. Most tools were manual, and few companies had pursued robotics due to the technical challenges. The space remained largely untapped.
Founded in 2015, Yarbo originally aimed to build outdoor home robots but hadn’t yet committed to a specific product line. After identifying the gap in snow removal, the company shifted focus to developing a robot that could handle extreme cold and heavy snow. It became a long-term effort: Yarbo spent eight years developing its first product.
The company’s debut model launched in 2024: a modular yard robot based on a “1+N” system, where one core unit connects to multiple functional attachments. Its snow removal module is the flagship offering and, as of now, is touted as the only commercialized consumer-grade snow robot available.
Despite a lead time of nearly five months, Yarbo offered full-price preorders via its website. A typical unit, including the base robot and selected modules, sold for around USD 5,000. The campaign attracted more than 6,000 orders, generating over RMB 200 million (USD 28 million) in revenue. The strong uptake pointed to both demand and a lack of alternatives.
North America and Europe remain Yarbo’s main markets. The company has completed a Series A funding round, raising a nine-figure RMB sum, and scaled manufacturing capacity to over 200,000 units per year. It expects to ship 100,000 units in 2025, continuing three years of consecutive growth.
A challenging market to enter
Most startups in home-use robotics have focused on lawn mowing or pool cleaning—categories with well-established demand. Snow removal, by contrast, is relatively underdeveloped.
According to QYResearch, the global snow blower market reached USD 2.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.5–5.5%, potentially reaching USD 3.5–4.0 billion by 2029.
Gasoline-powered snow blowers account for 60–65% of the market. They are effective for heavy snow but are loud, cumbersome, and carry safety and storage risks. Battery-powered versions have gained traction for being quieter and easier to handle.
As of 2023, most snow robot developers were based in North America and Europe, with established players like Toro, Belrobotics, and Husqvarna leading the way. Yarbo says it was the first startup to enter this segment.
Before committing, Huang spent several months abroad conducting field research and speaking with potential users. What stood out was how essential the task was, and how technically demanding it would be to automate.
“Take lawn mowers, for example. The hardware design has barely changed. Whether you use a wired or wireless version, most of them look and function the same. It’s just about adding intelligence. But a snow robot? That’s a fundamentally new product,” Huang told 36Kr.
For a startup, the hardware requirements were steep. Snow robots need to function in subzero temperatures, handle uneven terrain, and rely on multiple precision components that must perform reliably in harsh conditions. In some parts of North America, snowfall can exceed several feet, requiring high-torque motors to drive large augers and eject snow efficiently.
Standard motors lose torque in the cold, making them difficult to start. Yarbo had to design custom low-temperature batteries and motors for reliable cold weather operation.
Snow consistency further complicates things. Wet snow clings to surfaces, requiring anti-adhesive coatings. Dry snow needs specific blade geometry and spin speeds for effective clearance. These variations add to the complexity of both mechanical and control systems.
It took Yarbo eight product iterations to address core challenges like self-heating batteries, wireless charging, and moisture control.
Hardware was only part of the equation. The supply chain posed another major hurdle. Huang estimates 60% of Yarbo’s suppliers are exclusive. Key components such as low-temperature batteries, wireless charging systems, and modular connectors had no off-the-shelf options. Yarbo had to develop them from scratch, increasing both cost and development time.
This reliance introduced risks, such as supplier delays or material price fluctuations that could disrupt deliveries or impact customer satisfaction.
Nonetheless, Yarbo fulfilled all orders from its presale campaign, and early customer feedback has been positive.
Now the company must tackle a different challenge: growing brand awareness and boosting sales in a market with low repeat purchase rates.
More than a snow machine
While snow removal is essential, it’s a seasonal task. Yard care, by contrast, spans the full year. In the US, FHWA data shows that as of 2021, over 80 million of the country’s roughly 120 million homes were single-family residences. These typically include driveways, lawns, and walkways, often across lots of 500 square meters or more. Regular upkeep includes mowing, leaf blowing, and debris clearing.
For many homeowners, the ideal robot is multipurpose. A product that works across seasons is easier to justify in terms of cost and storage.
“Yard robots are not impulse buys,” Huang said. “People want to know they’ll actually use them, and that they’ll work.”
Yarbo’s robots are built with that in mind. The modular platform supports snow removal in winter, mowing in summer, and leaf blowing in fall. It can cover up to six acres and clear up to 2,000 square meters in a single session. Its track-based design offers strong off-road performance, and its flexible chassis can handle slopes of up to 30 degrees and horizontal tilts of up to 15 degrees.
It doesn’t come cheap. The base unit starts around USD 4,000, and a full setup with snow, lawn, and leaf modules can reach USD 7,000.
Many users, according to Huang, spent weeks researching before deciding to buy. They are drawn to the robot’s multi-season functionality, as well as the cost efficiency that comes from a modular platform. The more often it gets used, the more value it offers, building loyalty and encouraging long-term adoption.
Looking ahead, Yarbo plans to expand its range of modules to include salt spreading, fertilizing, and even fruit picking. The goal is to evolve from today’s “1+3” model into a fully flexible “1+N” platform. The company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Huizhou, Guangdong, and Jiashan, Zhejiang.
As one of China’s leading yard robotics exporters, Yarbo appears poised for large-scale commercialization. In a market crowded with lawn and pool robots, its focus on snow removal may offer a viable model for others seeking to differentiate.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Huang Nan for 36Kr.