And it's not just about shipping more units. Chinese manufacturers are now designing products that fit the way Europeans actually live, from portable units that bypass strict installation rules to gadgets that offer sun protection too. Zhao Chenchen takes a closer look.
Umbrellas, mini fans, and ice makers. The demand for these cooling appliances from China surges as Europe experiences another summer of extreme heat. And Chinese manufacturers are redesigning these products to better fit local lifestyles.
ZHAO CHENCHEN Foshan, Guangdong Province "This is a mobile split air conditioner tailored for the European market. The top module, which only weighs about 10 kilograms, functions as the outdoor condenser, and it can be easily mounted onto a windowsill without requiring structural drilling."
XIONG XUEQIN Sales Director, Midea RAC Europe Region "In Europe, the rental rate is relatively high, and people want products that can be used right away. Compared to traditional mobile air conditioners, it has higher energy efficiency to save your electricity bill and better noise control as its external unit is outdoors. That's why it can win the hearts of European consumers."
A product like this was born out of a localized approach. European consumers did not have the demand to purchase air conditioners until recent years. But with a global designing team, Chinese enterprises can respond faster with local insight.
ZHAO ALI Europe Product Manager, Midea RAC Overseas "We started from the product, with the front-end team identify a specific problem from the local consumers. Then we bring together a dedicated team to develop a solution, working closely with our R&D teams in China as well as our industrial design team in Italy."
Sales of this AC in Europe have more than doubled to some 200,000 units this year. More Chinese manufacturers are designing products around local consumer needs, from portable fans for outdoor lifestyles in Latin America to energy-efficient climate solutions for European homes. Expert says innovation no longer stops at the factory floor.
LIU ZHIJIE Director, International Cooperation Department China Development Institute "It's about tech innovation. We've long moved from the model of original equipment manufacturing. Chinese companies can now turn independent R&D into products fast , driven by the market demand."
With an expanding China–Europe freight train network, some shipments can now reach Europe in as little as 15 days. That's around 25 days faster than traditional sea freight. As summer demand gradually gives way to the heating season, production lines are already preparing for the next wave of orders.
Designing smarter, responding faster, and staying closer to the markets they serve are becoming the key competitiveness for Chinese manufacturers. （Zhao Chenchen, CGTN）
