Chinese robotics firm teams up with German soccer star for lawn mower brand

A Chinese tech company just hired a famous German soccer goalkeeper to sell its robotic lawn mowers. The company, worth about $1. 4 billion, doubled its stock value when it first sold shares in Hong Kong last month. The same week, another Chinese sports brand signed a top NBA player to a $400 million deal. These moves show how Chinese businesses are looking beyond their slowing home market to boost global sales. The new ambassador plays for Barcelona, one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world. The company plans to run ads with him after the World Cup starts, using everything from social media to in-store displays. While the stock price has dropped since its first day, the company still raised over $100 million when it went public.The company doesn’t just make lawn mowers. Its technology also powers robot vacuums, delivery bots, and even restaurant helpers. Earlier this year, a different Chinese robotics firm tried to buy a well-known American robot vacuum company after it went bankrupt. Some top executives in this industry are now worth billions. Still, this company sells far fewer mowers than bigger rivals and lost money last year. The partnership with the soccer star might help the brand stand out. But can a lawn mower company really compete with long-time leaders in home robots? The tech behind these machines keeps improving, but making a name in a crowded market won’t be easy.