DATE: SEP 04 2023/ SOURCE: YICAI
(Yicai) Sept. 4 -- Leading Chinese home appliance makers, including TCL Technology, Hisense, Haier, and Midea, have brought their new smart home systems to the consumer and home electronics trade show being held in Berlin.
TCL premiered its household energy management system, which comprises photovoltaic panels, energy storage units, heat pumps, and charging piles for electric cars, at the five-day IFA 2023 which ends tomorrow.
China’s home appliance makers made a foray into Europe's household PV power generation market this year as a result of the continent’s soaring energy prices. Yicai learned at the IFA that smart home energy solutions have become a new business growth point for these firms in Europe.
TCL's household energy management system has great potential overseas, said Zhang Shaoyong, vice president of TCL Industries and chief executive of TCL Electronics, because its affiliate TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology, the world's second-largest solar wafer maker, can deliver PV materials in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.
TCL's sales by volume and revenue in Europe jumped 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively, in the first half from a year earlier, Zhang added, noting that the television market has great growth potential. The Huizhou-based firm also unveiled its new 115-inch quantum dot-mini light emitting diode TV at the IFA.
Midea held its yearly Midea Eco-Green Action Annual Opening at the IFA. During the event, the Foshan-based company displayed its smart home energy management system comprising solar energy, energy storage, and EV charging piles.
Also at the trade fair, Hisense debuted its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning energy solution, which has PV panels, energy storage units, heat pumps, and household and commercial air-con.
The IFA mainly targets the European market, Fang Xueyu, executive vice president at Hisense International Marketing, told Yicai. Energy conservation, environmental protection, smart interconnection, and packaging are the directions for products in Europe amid surging energy prices, she added, noting that Hisense's revenue from Europe and North America rose 20 percent this year.
Hisense expects to produce 28 million display devices this year, Fang said. The company aims to increase its Europe market share to second place in the next two to three years, she pointed out.
Haier Smart Home showcased a number of refrigerators and washing machines with energy efficiency higher than products rated A under the European Union energy efficiency directive.
Haier's sales in Europe jumped 30 percent to CNY13.3 billion (USD1.8 billion) in the first half from a year ago, the company said in its latest financial report.