Europe AC Installation Fee Up to €1,500; Chinese Brands Sell Over 10K Units/Month
Recently, an extreme heatwave continues to sweep Europe, with Germany, the UK, France, and other countries recording new temperature highs. Multiple countries have issued heat warnings.
Against this backdrop, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances have become hot sellers on e-commerce platforms, with over 10,000 units sold per month. Offline stores are even experiencing stock shortages.
Over 40°C Heatwave Continues, Affecting Multiple Countries
According to CCTV News, a World Meteorological Organization official said the heatwave that recently swept Western Europe, breaking multiple temperature records, will continue to spread eastward, affecting the entire European continent.
Data shows that France has experienced several consecutive days of heatwave, with temperatures in western France rising to 43°C, the highest June temperature on record.
The UK saw its June temperature records broken for three consecutive days from June 24 to 26, reaching 37.3°C on the 26th. On June 26, over a thousand schools in England and Wales were either fully or partially closed.
In Germany, the Möcken-Drewitz area in the east recorded 41.5°C on June 27, setting a new high. The persistent heat caused damage to multiple highway surfaces, leading to closures or speed limits on several sections. Railway authorities urged the public to reduce long-distance travel.
Italy is also suffering from extreme heat. The Italian government has issued red heat alerts for 18 cities, including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.
Despite record temperatures, air conditioner penetration in European countries is far lower than in other major economies, with only about 20% of households having cooling equipment.
Reasons are manifold: historically, prolonged high temperatures were infrequent in Europe, especially in the north, limiting AC demand; and to combat climate change, Europe has set green development goals, with some countries imposing restrictions on AC use. For example, Spain introduced a rule in 2022 requiring air conditioning in public places to be set no lower than 27°C.
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E-commerce Sales Exceed 10K; Chinese ACs Break Through on Price-Performance
Under the scorching heat, home cooling demand has surged.
According to reports, in France, regular portable ACs cost between €200 and €500, while split ACs range from €500 to €1,200.
Blue Whale News checked Amazon France and found that by best-selling ranking, the top two are both Midea ACs: one sold over 10,000 units in the past month, priced at €166; another sold over 7,000 units at €459.
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In this heatwave, Chinese AC brands have stood out with their cost-performance advantage, becoming the first choice for many local consumers.
A Chinese national living in Paris for ten years said: "Midea, Haier, Gree and other brands are all available in France. At the same configuration, Chinese brands are generally much cheaper than European, American, and Japanese brands."
According to CCTV News, in the first five months of 2026, China's exports of household air conditioners to Western European countries increased by 9.7% year-on-year; among them, portable ACs saw standout growth, with a year-on-year increase of over 70%. Many companies report that consumers in several Western European markets are queuing to buy, offline stores are out of stock, and supply cannot meet demand.
Can Afford to Buy but Not Install or Run: Installation Fee Up to €1,500
Notably, buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; what really deters consumers is the installation process.
For split ACs, a single installation fee typically ranges from €300 to €1,500, with the highest quotes exceeding the AC unit's price.
Local Chinese analysts explained: Many buildings in Paris are decades or even centuries old, with thick walls that make drilling far more difficult than in modern buildings. Installing units on high-rise buildings involves high-risk work. Most apartments also require prior approval from the property management and the owners' committee, adding bureaucratic hurdles.
Meanwhile, local installation workers have high hourly rates. With multiple cost factors combined, split ACs have become "affordable to buy but not to install" appliances in the region.
Due to installation difficulties and high costs, portable ACs have become the preferred cooling option for local residents, especially renters.
However, Chinese companies have developed customized products to address the challenges of facade protection restrictions and high installation fees in Europe.
For example, the "Midea U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window AC" features a U-shaped open design that fits into window gaps, allowing the window to remain partially open after installation. This avoids Europe's high split AC labor costs, property approvals, and wall drilling issues, making it a popular choice in overseas rental markets.
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Additionally, buying an AC is only the first step; ongoing electricity costs are also significant.
Local Chinese feedback: Based on daily use of 6-8 hours, split ACs add €30-80 per month to electricity bills; more energy-intensive portable ACs can add €50-100 per month.
Therefore, energy efficiency has become a core consideration for local consumers when choosing an AC. On e-commerce platforms, high-efficiency energy-saving models also lead in sales.
