On July 13 (local time), according to Xinhua, the prolonged heat wave in Spain and many areas in Europe is driving up demand for air conditioners. In that context, air conditioner brands from China are increasingly favored by consumers thanks to their competitive prices, saving electricity and improved quality.
This trend is becoming clear at many electronics stores across Spain.
Mr. Albert Martinez - manager of Electro Norma store - said that more and more customers actively ask about Chinese air conditioner brands.
More and more Chinese brands are appearing and customers are starting to pay attention to them. Although demand is still not too large, it is increasing significantly, many people are coming to ask to buy according to the brand name," Mr. Martinez told Xinhua.
According to Mr. Muhammad Hussain - owner of Soy Clima store, prices are becoming a decisive factor in consumer choices.
Customers are not only interested in quality but also very focused on reasonable prices. Chinese brands often have competitive prices, so they are chosen by many people to overcome the hot summer," he said.
In recent weeks, temperatures in many areas of the Iberian Peninsula have exceeded 40°C, while scientists warn that extreme heat waves will appear more frequently and intensely due to climate change.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Europe is heating up at twice the global average rate, but only about 20% of households are equipped with air conditioners, showing that the market still has a very large growth potential.
Mr. Eric Marti - Chairman of Fegicat, one of the federations representing air conditioning installation businesses in Spain - said that air conditioners are no longer simply devices that create comfort.
For families with elderly people, young children or vulnerable people, air conditioning has become a problem directly related to health," he said.
Many consumers also appreciate the balance between price and performance of products from China.
Ms. Regina Lidia Perez - a customer in Barcelona - said that she is considering buying Chinese air conditioners after being advised that "the ratio between price and quality is very good". Meanwhile, Mr. Jose Manuel Serrano said that he also plans to install Chinese brand air conditioners because this is "a reliable brand" with quality enough to reassure users.
According to Mr. Martinez, Chinese manufacturers have significantly improved their competitiveness in recent years.
Chinese air conditioners are often cheaper than Japanese brands but still offer very good performance. Many models have energy-saving capabilities and are equipped with modern technology, bringing high value compared to the money spent," he said.
Experts believe that air conditioning demand will continue to increase as climate change makes hot spells more frequent. Representatives of the Spanish refrigeration industry also expect Chinese businesses to expand their technical service networks, after-sales service and installation team training to consolidate their position in the European market.
