Securing another championship in June, Gree has cemented its position as the undisputed leader in variable-frequency technology.

According to the latest data released by the third-party market research firm Industry Online, in June, the production and sales of inverter air conditioners reversed the steady growth trend of the previous five months, posting a slight decline. However, Gree, the leading air-conditioning brand, continued to grow and maintained an overwhelming lead in the inverter‑air‑conditioner market, with its market share gap widening steadily over the second‑place contender, cementing its unchallenged position as the industry’s top player.

Industry sales edged down, but Gree still posted growth.

　　According to data from Industry Online, in June 2012, total sales of inverter air conditioners reached 329.59 units, down 9% year on year. Of these, domestic sales amounted to 2.2407 million units, a 16% decline compared with the same period last year, while exports totaled 1.0552 million units, up 10.4% year on year.

　　Amid an overall industry downturn and a sharp decline in inverter‑air‑conditioner sales across most brands, Gree’s inverter models continued to post year‑on‑year growth, with their market share further expanding. According to the data, in June 2012, Gree shipped 1.18 million inverter air conditioners, up slightly by 4.61% year over year, capturing a 35.80% market share—1.22 percentage points higher than the previous month. From the start of the 2012 cooling season through June, Gree’s cumulative shipments reached 11.464 million units, a 48.36% increase compared with the same period last year, while its market share climbed to 40.07%, firmly securing its position as the monthly and full‑season leader in the inverter‑air‑conditioner segment for the 2012 cooling year.

　　Industry analysts at Industry Online note that, amid persistently weak international demand, June saw a rebound in exports of inverter air conditioners. This was driven by the onset of Japan’s peak consumption season, during which most inverter units produced by Japanese‑invested manufacturers were re‑exported to Japan; moreover, European markets also favored high‑end models. Meanwhile, production and sales of inverter air conditioners edged down slightly in June, primarily because the policy to phase out Level‑3 inverter models while retaining Level‑2 had not yet been fully implemented, leaving more fixed‑speed units on the market. As a result, domestic shipments accounted for 36.1% of total sales that month.

Amid an overall downturn in the inverter air-conditioning market, Gree has nonetheless stood out, posting growth against the trend. Experts attribute this to the power of technology and the resulting brand equity.

The strong remain strong, with Gree standing out as the clear leader.

　　In recent years, thanks to advancements in inverter air-conditioning technology, the comfort and energy‑saving benefits of inverter models have gained increasing market recognition, making “inverter” a key factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions. So how can manufacturers win over consumers? The answer lies in leveraging technological product advantages.

　　According to reports, Gree’s independently developed 1-Hz inverter technology is among the most advanced in the world. Air conditioners equipped with this technology can save approximately 440 kWh of electricity per unit annually compared to conventional models, translating into cost savings of about RMB 264 (based on an electricity rate of RMB 0.6 per kWh). If all domestically sold air conditioners were 1-Hz inverter models—assuming domestic sales of 61.6185 million units during the 2011 cooling season—annual energy savings would total roughly 27.11 billion kWh, equivalent to a reduction of 27.04 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. On February 14, 2012, the State Science and Technology Progress Award was announced, and Gree’s 1-Hz inverter technology was honored with this prestigious award, making Gree the only specialized air-conditioning company to receive it.

　　Technological innovation is reflected in the evolving landscape of air-conditioning brands, with leading players further consolidating their dominance. Following a strategic downsizing by one major brand, its market share has widened significantly relative to Gree, the industry’s top player. As a result, the duopoly that once defined the domestic market is fading, and Gree’s position as an unrivaled leader is becoming increasingly pronounced.

　　According to data from Industry Online, in June, Gree shipped 1.18 million inverter air conditioners, up 4.16% year over year. From the start of the 2012 cooling season through June, Gree’s cumulative shipments reached 11.464 million units, a 48.36% year-over-year increase—far outpacing the industry average. In terms of market share, Gree held 35.8% in June, roughly twice that of the second-largest player, and its cumulative market share for the 2012 cooling season exceeded 40%, equivalent to the combined share of the industry’s second- through fifth-largest brands.

　　Industry experts say that, with the onset of scorching summer weather in July and the gradual realization of the effectiveness of subsidy policies, Gree’s inverter air conditioner sales growth is expected to accelerate in the coming months, further boosting its market share.