Midea Group

Corporate brand

Chinese electrical appliance giant and one of the world's largest home-appliance and HVAC manufacturers, also a major OEM/ODM supplier and robotics player.

Last updated October 25, 2026

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Overview

Midea Group (Chinese: 美的集团) is a Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer headquartered in Beijiao town, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong. Founded in 1968 by He Xiangjian as a maker of bottle lids, the company evolved into one of the world's largest producers of home appliances and commercial air conditioners. It has been listed on the main board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2013 and has appeared on the Fortune Global 500 since July 2016. As of 2021, the firm employed approximately 150,000 people in China and overseas, operating through 200 subsidiaries and over 60 overseas branches. Midea's core business is air conditioning, both residential and commercial, which accounted for CNY161.1 billion in 2023 — over US$20 billion. Other major appliances contributed CNY134.7 billion. The company produces refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, kettles, water dispensers, vacuum cleaners, lighting, water appliances, floor care, small kitchen appliances, laundry and large cooking appliances. It is the largest microwave oven manufacturer and acts as an OEM for many brands, meaning many microwaves and HVAC products sold under other names are internally made by Midea. In 2017 it was reportedly the world's largest producer of industrial robots and appliances. While Midea sells under its own name domestically, much of its export business is as an OEM and ODM for well-known global brands. Since the 2010s it has launched its own brand in growing foreign markets such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, India, Egypt and most Southeast Asian countries. The group also owns a portfolio of brands including Little Swan (laundry and refrigeration) and Hualing (air conditioners and refrigerators), and acquired Toshiba's home appliances business, the German robotics company KUKA, and the floorcare brand Eureka from Electrolux. In the United States, Midea markets a broad range of home appliances directly to consumers through its US website, including refrigerators, ranges, range hoods, dishwashers, laundry, cooling and heating, microwaves and small kitchen appliances, with free shipping on all orders. The company launched its first major US advertising campaign in 2022, a humorous effort starring actor Sam Richardson as a fictional "Chief Idea Officer." In 2024 Midea struck a sponsorship deal with Sevilla FC running until 2026.

History

Midea Group traces its origins to 1968, when He Xiangjian founded the company in Beijiao, producing bottle lids. After an initial period manufacturing bottle lids and car parts, the company shifted to fully finished goods, beginning with electric fans in 1980. Five years later, in 1985, Midea produced its first air conditioner, a product that remains the core of its business today. Over the following 15 years the company gradually expanded into a wide variety of other electrical home appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines and microwave ovens. In 1973, the subsidiary handling the core businesses, known as Guangdong Midea Electric, proceeded with a public offering of shares on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Guangdong Midea Electric's parent company, known today as Midea Group, remained privately held at that time. Midea opened its first overseas production facilities in 2007, in the Vietnam Industrial Park outside Ho Chi Minh City, marking the beginning of a period of international expansion. In 2008, Midea formed a manufacturing joint venture with Belarusian microwave producer Horizont to break into the various CIS markets, and also acquired the Little Swan company, adopting its brand for laundry and refrigeration appliances. 2010 saw the first of several overseas joint ventures between Midea and American air-conditioner manufacturer Carrier Corporation, based in Cairo, Egypt, under the name Miraco Carrier. The next year, Midea and Carrier formed a collection of closely networked joint venture companies in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, and another separately in India. In August 2012, the board announced that founder He Xiangjian had resigned as Chairman; Guangdong Midea Electric Chairman and President Paul Fang was named the new Chairman of Midea Group. A restructuring plan was announced in April 2013. In September 2013, the whole entity was publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as Midea Group, while Guangdong Midea Electric was privatized by Midea Group. At the end of 2014, Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi invested CN¥1.2 billion for 1.2% of Midea Group, and a cooperation between the two companies was announced. In 2016, Midea made three major acquisitions: Toshiba's home appliances business for US$477 million, the German robotics company KUKA, and Eureka, the floorcare brand, from Electrolux AB in December. It has been listed on the Fortune Global 500 since July 2016. In 2017, Midea became embroiled in a controversy involving millions of defective air conditioner/humidifier units made for many US brands, with lawsuits and allegations from US consumers that the company failed to honor replacement obligations involving a recall it had issued. In December 2018, Midea Group established its semiconductor subsidiary MR Semi Co. Ltd. In 2022, the company launched its first major US advertising campaign, a humorous effort starring actor Sam Richardson of HBO's Veep as a fictional Chief Idea Officer who takes credit for all Midea products. In 2024, a sponsorship deal was struck between Midea and Sevilla FC, lasting until 2026. As of 2021, the firm employed approximately 150,000 people in China and overseas with 200 subsidiaries and over 60 overseas branches, and declared sales revenue of US$40.5 billion for the 2020 financial year.

2024
Midea strikes a sponsorship deal with Sevilla FC lasting until 2026.
2022
Midea launches its first major US advertising campaign starring Sam Richardson.
2018
Midea Group establishes semiconductor subsidiary MR Semi Co. Ltd.
2017
Midea reportedly becomes the world's largest producer of industrial robots and appliances; embroiled in US defective air conditioner/humidifier controversy.
2016
Midea acquires Toshiba's home appliances business, KUKA, and Eureka; listed on the Fortune Global 500.
2014
Xiaomi invests CN¥1.2 billion for 1.2% of Midea Group.
2013
Midea Group is publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange; Guangdong Midea Electric is privatized.
2012
Founder He Xiangjian resigns as Chairman; Paul Fang is named Chairman of Midea Group.
2011
Midea and Carrier form joint venture companies in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and India.
2010
First overseas joint venture with Carrier Corporation established in Cairo, Egypt, as Miraco Carrier.
2008
Midea forms a manufacturing joint venture with Belarusian microwave producer Horizont and acquires Little Swan.
2007
Midea opens its first overseas production facilities in the Vietnam Industrial Park outside Ho Chi Minh City.
1985
Midea produces its first air conditioner.
1980
Company begins manufacturing electric fans.
1973
Guangdong Midea Electric proceeds with a public offering of shares on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
1968
He Xiangjian founds the company in Beijiao, producing bottle lids.
He Xiangjian founded the business in Beijiao, initially producing bottle lids.
Midea began producing electric fans.
Midea produced its first air conditioner.
Midea opened its first overseas production facilities in Vietnam.
Midea formed a manufacturing joint venture with Horizont to serve CIS markets.
Midea and Carrier established a joint venture in Egypt.
Founder He Xiangjian resigned as chairman; Paul Fang was named the new chairman.
Midea Group was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange following a restructuring.

Products and positioning

World-leading, high-volume manufacturer of home appliances and HVAC, serving both own-brand consumers and global OEM/ODM customers, with a growing smart-home and robotics portfolio.

Air conditioners
Residential and commercial air conditioners; the core of Midea's business, accounting for CNY161.1 billion in 2023.
Microwave ovens
Midea is the largest microwave oven manufacturer, producing for its own brand and as an OEM for many other brands.
Refrigerators
A major home appliance category, sold under Midea and other group brands.
Washing machines
Laundry appliances, including those under the Little Swan brand.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers marketed in the US and other markets.
Small kitchen appliances
Kettles, water dispensers and other small appliances.
HVAC systems
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning products for home and commercial use.
Industrial robots
Through the acquisition of German robotics company KUKA.
Home appliances
The range includes refrigeration, laundry, cooking, dishwashing, microwave, and small kitchen appliances.
OEM and ODM appliances
Midea manufactures appliances for sale under other companies’ brands.

Controversies

2021
Midea oven glass door shatters during first use
A customer reported that the glass door of a Midea electric oven shattered during its first heating test. Midea said its investigation found that the tempered glass shattered at high temperature during preheating and characterized the incident as low probability.
Source
2020
Consumer reports Midea gas stove explosion
A consumer reported that a Midea gas stove exploded after less than ten days of use. In response, Midea stated that it had refunded the purchase and was carrying out a self-inspection and third-party testing. The cause of the incident had not yet been reported. The event drew attention as a consumer complaint concerning product safety, with the company acknowledging the refund and the ongoing testing process while the underlying cause remained unreported.
Source
2020
Midea responds to Gree’s bidding allegations
Midea responded to Gree’s allegations concerning invoice information and technical parameters in a China Mobile bidding project, saying the claims were untrue and that the invoice-number discrepancy resulted from a clerical error.
Source
2019
Midea recalled MK-H517E2 electric kettles
Guangdong Midea Life Electric Manufacturing Co. filed a recall plan covering 83,262 Midea MK-H517E2 electric kettles manufactured during the specified periods. The recall was recorded in a December 2019 report. The filing identifies the affected product model and the number of units involved, with the kettles produced during the periods designated in the plan. No further details on the reason for the recall, its implementation, or its outcome are provided in the source.
Source
U.S. defective-unit and recall controversy

2026.10.27
Reported2026.10.27
Midea refrigerator promotional offer[10]美的冰箱促销活动jd.zol.com.cn
A Midea French-door refrigerator was offered on JD.com with multiple discounts and purchase benefits; the article reported a final price as low as 3,278.56 yuan.
2026.10.10
Midea launches WIN 9JA WIN purchase-based promotion with Chery Tiggo 2 Pro as grand prize[11]美的推出WIN 9JA WIN购物促销活动，大奖为奇瑞Tiggo 2 Pro汽车ghanamma.com
Midea, a home appliance manufacturer, introduced a nationwide consumer promotion tagged WIN 9JA WIN, offering a Chery Tiggo 2 Pro as the grand prize along with household appliances and other gifts to customers who meet its purchase requirements. The promotion began on October 10 and runs until December 31, 2026.
2026.10.09
Reported2026.10.09
Midea Group completes controlling acquisition of Esaote[12]美的集团完成对百胜医疗（Esaote）的控股收购prnasia.com
Midea Group has completed its controlling acquisition of Italian medical imaging company Esaote S.p.A. Esaote will be integrated into Midea's medical business division while continuing to operate as an independent global medical device company headquartered in Genoa, Italy, retaining R&D and production bases in Italy and the Netherlands, with Franco Fontana confirmed to remain CEO.
2026.10.09
Reported2026.10.09
Midea completes acquisition of controlling stake in Esaote[13]美的完成对Esaote控股权的收购northernnews.ca
Esaote S.p.A. announced on Oct. 9, 2026 the completion of the acquisition of a controlling stake in its share capital by Midea. Esaote will become part of Midea Healthcare and continue to operate as an independent global medical equipment company headquartered in Genoa, Italy, with R&D and manufacturing facilities in Italy and the Netherlands, and Franco Fontana confirmed as CEO.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.08.07
Midea launches kitchen appliance installation and replacement services[14]美的推出厨电安装及只换不修服务finance.sina.com.cn
Midea introduced installation benefits including free measurement, kitchen modification and installation materials, as well as a two-year replace-without-repair service for eligible models of specified kitchen appliances.
2022.03.10
Reported2022.03.11
JD.com and Midea sign strategic cooperation agreement[15]京东与美的签订战略合作协议finance.sina.com.cn
JD.com and Midea signed a strategic cooperation agreement to combine their capabilities and cooperate on enterprise customers, shared service resources, marketing, digital projects and business-to-business supply chains.
2022.03.02
JD and appliance brands launch the JD Appliance Blue Shield Plan[16]京东与家电品牌发起京东电器蓝盾计划finance.jrj.com.cn
JD and brand partners launched the JD Appliance Blue Shield Plan to develop digitalized, standardized and predictable appliance service capabilities. The article reports that 20 brands had joined the cooperation.
2022.02.23
Reported2022.02.23
Midea unveils S8+ robot vacuum cleaner[17]美的发布 S8+ 扫地机器人menafn.com
Midea released details of its next-generation S8+ auto-dust-collection robot vacuum cleaner, made by subsidiary Midea Robozone Technology. The article also says the company planned to release the product.
Unconfirmed
Reported2022.01.06
Midea wins industry and product awards at cleaning-appliance summit[18]美的在清洁电器峰会上获得品牌及产品奖项finance.sina.com.cn
At the 2021 China Cleaning Appliance Industry Innovation and Development Summit, Midea received the Technology Innovation Brand and Top Ten Influential Brand awards, while its X8 floor washer received three product awards.
2021.12.06
Reported2021.12.06
Midea washing machine division and Huazhong University of Science and Technology launch strategic cooperation[19]美的洗衣机事业部与华中科技大学启动战略合作finance.sina.com.cn
Midea Group's washing machine division and Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuxi Research Institute announced the start of strategic cooperation and jointly inaugurated a digital-intelligence R&D cooperation platform.

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Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Related entries

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