经济观察报·2025-07-03 10:52Core Viewpoint - The acquisition of Shanghai New Times Electric Co., Ltd. by Haier for over 2.5 billion yuan is aimed at enhancing Haier's hardware capabilities within the context of building the COSMOPlat industrial internet ecosystem [2][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Rationale - Haier's strategic investment in New Times is part of its transition from a home appliance manufacturer to an industrial ecosystem builder, focusing on industrial automation and domestic substitution strategies [3][5]. - New Times has significant technological expertise in industrial automation hardware, which will complement Haier's existing software capabilities on the COSMOPlat platform [3][6]. - The acquisition is expected to help both companies break industry barriers and reshape the competitive landscape of the industrial internet sector through a differentiated approach of hardware integration and software ecosystem collaboration [3][10]. Group 2: Financial Context - New Times has faced financial challenges, reporting cumulative losses exceeding 1.7 billion yuan over the past three years, with revenues of 3.097 billion yuan, 3.387 billion yuan, and 3.357 billion yuan from 2022 to 2024 [12][14]. - The acquisition provides New Times with much-needed financial support and access to Haier's global market channels and international R&D resources [10][12]. Group 3: Integration Strategy - Haier plans to integrate New Times through three main dimensions: strategic positioning, supply chain collaboration, and technological fusion [12][14]. - The initial focus will be on redefining New Times as an "industrial automation solution service provider" and implementing Haier's "user-centric" management model to enhance operational efficiency [14][15]. - Haier aims to leverage its procurement and manufacturing advantages to optimize New Times' cost structure and improve operational efficiency [15]. Group 4: Industry Context - The Chinese industrial internet market is projected to reach 1.48625 trillion yuan by 2026, indicating a significant growth opportunity for companies like Haier and New Times [8]. - The acquisition aligns with Haier's broader strategy to establish a digital economy ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of integrating artificial intelligence and robotics into various applications [20][22]. - Haier's dual focus on industrial and household robotics positions it competitively against other major players in the market, such as Midea and Gree, who are also pursuing differentiated strategies in the robotics sector [22][23].