Qingdao's smart appliance cluster leads China's industrial transformation

Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group makes AI-driven rehabilitation robots, that give rehab plans based on the physical conditions of the elderly. [Photo/WeChat account: opinionline]

Qingdao has long been important in China's home appliance industry. With big names like Haier, Hisense, and Aucma leading, the city makes nearly 70 million appliances annually, accounting for one-tenth of the country's total output. That means one in every ten household appliances in China is made in Qingdao.

The city also has the country's only national-level manufacturing innovation center dedicated to high-end smart home appliances. This center, and Qingdao's selection as a national advanced manufacturing cluster for smart appliances, shows its leading role in the sector.

Qingdao is speeding up its use of smart tech. Under the city's "10+1" innovation-driven system, smart appliances rank first among three priority industries for quality upgrades. The focus is on using AI, the industrial internet, and other cutting-edge tech to develop new productive forces and boost core competitiveness.

Key areas like smart home systems, audio-visual electronics, smart service appliances, and wearable devices have been chosen as the city's growth areas. By 2027, Qingdao wants to grow its smart appliance industry to 420 billion yuan ($58.75 billion).

From making China's first single-tub washing machine and refrigerator in the 1970s to today's global breakthroughs — like Haier Smart Home leading in smart home patents for 12 years and Hisense leading in RGB multi-color LCD tech — Qingdao is a major source of innovation, strengthening China's reputation as leader in global appliances.