This summer, Europe has been gripped by relentless heatwaves, with record-high temperatures reported in multiple countries. PortaSplit, a portable air conditioner developed and manufactured by a Guangdong-based company specifically for the European market, has seen booming sales in countries such as Germany, France, and Spain.

The European air conditioning market has long been held back by four major obstacles: high installation costs that can run between €1,000 and €2,000 per unit in countries such as Germany, France, the UK and Spain; a severe shortage of installers during peak season, often leaving consumers waiting two weeks or more for service; strict building conservation regulations that generally prohibit drilling into exterior walls and mounting outdoor units; and high rental rates, making it difficult for tenants to take traditional split-system units with them when they move.

How did this Guangdong-made air conditioner become a European bestseller and fly off the shelves? Xiong Xueqin, Director of Midea's residential air conditioning division in Europe, explained that three years ago, the Midea team set out to find a middle ground between high-performance split systems costing over €2,500 and cheap portable units that sell for €200–300 but offer poor quality. After three years of iterative upgrades, they delivered a product that combines the comfort of a split system with the ease of a portable unit, precisely addressing European consumers’ core demands. It requires no exterior wall drilling, is ready to use straight out of the box, and can be easily disassembled and taken along when users move.

By responding swiftly to market demands and staying truly close to the market, Guangdong manufacturing is gaining a strategic edge in global supply chains. "With this product, we've shown European consumers that Chinese companies aren't just about manufacturing—we can also innovate and develop products that truly fit the local market," Xiong said.

高温炙烤欧洲，这款“广东造”空调被疯抢

今夏以来，热浪笼罩欧洲，多国出现创纪录高温。一款针对欧洲市场、由粤企研发制造的便携式空调PortaSplit在德国、法国、西班牙等国家销售火爆。

欧洲空调市场长期存在四大“梗阻”：安装费用高昂，在德国、法国、英国、西班牙等国，单台安装费可达1000至2000欧元；安装工旺季紧缺，消费者排队两周也未必能等到工人上门；各国建筑保护法规严格，普遍禁止外墙打孔和室外机悬挂；租房率高企，住户搬家时难以带走传统分体机。

这款“广东造”空调何以在欧洲成爆款、卖断货？美的家用空调事业部欧洲业务大区总监熊学勤表示，三年前，美的团队试图在“体验好但贵”的分体机（2500欧元以上）和“便宜但质量差”的移动空调（200-300欧元）之间，找到一个更优解。经过三年迭代，这款兼具分体机体验与便捷安装特性的产品面世，直击欧洲消费者需求——无需外墙施工，即插即用，搬家时可轻松拆卸带走。

快速响应需求、真正贴近市场，广东制造正在全球供应链中赢得战略主动。“依托于这款产品，我们让欧洲消费者看到中国企业不光是做制造，也能做创新，研发出适合当地市场的产品。”熊学勤感慨道。

文｜羊城晚报记者 王丹阳
译｜黄健新
英文审校｜盛嘉