Market Analysis: Europe AC Installation Costs Up to €1500, Chinese Brands Sell Over 10K Units

Blue Whale News June 29 (Reporter Lu Pengpeng) Extreme heatwaves continue to sweep Europe, with Germany, UK, France and others setting new high temperature records, prompting multiple heat alerts.

Against this backdrop, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances have become hot items locally, with monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units on e-commerce platforms, and even shortages in offline stores.

Over 40°C Heatwave Persists, Multiple Countries Issue Alerts

According to CCTV News, a WMO official said on June 26 that the heatwave sweeping Western Europe and breaking multiple temperature records will continue eastward, affecting the entire continent.

Data shows France has experienced consecutive days of heatwave, with western France reaching 43°C, a June record; UK high temperature records were broken three consecutive days from June 24-26, reaching 37.3°C on June 26. Over 1,000 schools in England and Wales closed fully or partially. Germany's Muecken-Drewitz region recorded 41.5°C on June 27, a new record. Persistent heat caused damage to multiple highway surfaces, leading to closures or speed limits, and railways urged reduced long-distance travel. Italy also suffered extreme heat, with 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan under red heat alerts.

Despite record temperatures, air conditioning penetration in European countries is far lower than other major economies, with only about 20% of households having cooling equipment.

Reasons are multiple. First, historically, summers in Europe, especially northern Europe, have not seen frequent prolonged heat, so demand for AC was low. Additionally, some European countries have implemented policies to limit AC use to combat climate change. For example, Spain in 2022 mandated public places to keep AC temperature no lower than 27°C.

Under Heatwave, Single AC Product Monthly Sales Exceed 10,000; Chinese Brands Stand Out on Value

Blue Whale interviewed a Chinese national who has lived in Paris for ten years. He said the recent heat in Paris is extreme, "Even in past hot summers, such extreme heat was rare. Walking on the street feels like melting."

Under the heat, demand for home cooling has surged.

He noted that in France, ordinary portable AC units range from €200 to €500, while split AC units cost about €500 to €1,200.

Blue Whale checked Amazon France's best-sellers list, finding the top two slots occupied by Midea AC units. One had over 10,000 purchases in the past month at €166, the other over 7,000 orders at €459.

In this heatwave, Chinese brand ACs have gained an edge with cost-performance, becoming top choices for many local consumers.

"Midea, Haier, Gree and other brands are available in France. With same specs, Chinese brands are generally much cheaper than European, American and Japanese brands," the Chinese national told Blue Whale.

According to CCTV News, in the first five months of 2026, China's AC exports to Western European countries increased 9.7% year-on-year; portable AC segment saw particularly strong growth of over 70%. Many companies reported consumers queuing to buy, offline store shortages and supply-demand imbalance in many Western European markets.

"Can Afford, Can't Install, Can't Use": Installation Fees Up to €1500, Electricity Bills May Rise €100/Month

Notably, buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; the real barrier is installation. Split AC installation costs typically range from €300 to €1,500, with highest quotes exceeding the AC unit's price.

Why so expensive? The local Chinese analyzed that most Paris city houses are decades or even centuries old, with thick walls making drilling much harder than modern buildings. Also, high-rise outdoor unit installation involves high-altitude work with high risk. Most apartments require prior approval from the building management and homeowners' committee, adding red tape.

Meanwhile, local installers' hourly rates are high. With multiple cost layers, split AC has become a "can afford but can't install" appliance locally.

Due to high installation difficulty and cost, portable mobile ACs have become the first choice for locals, especially renters.

However, Chinese companies have introduced customized products to address issues like exterior wall protection restrictions and high installation costs in Europe.

For example, the Midea U-shaped smart inverter window AC mentioned above (monthly sales over 7,000) features a U-shaped hollow design that fits into the window gap without permanent installation, still allowing limited window opening, perfectly avoiding Europe's high split AC labor costs, building approval and old wall drilling issues—a popular model in overseas rental markets.

It's worth noting that buying an AC is just the first step; subsequent electricity costs are also significant. The local Chinese said that running a split AC 6-8 hours daily can increase monthly electricity bills by €30-80, while a less efficient portable AC may add €50-100.

Thus, energy efficiency has become a core consideration for local consumers. On e-commerce platforms, Chinese brands' high-efficiency models also lead in sales.