
Core Viewpoint - The competition between Gree and Xiaomi in the air conditioning market has intensified, with Gree asserting its online sales leadership despite claims from Xiaomi that it surpassed Gree in July [1][4]. Group 1: Gree's Response - Gree's market director, Zhu Lei, stated that Gree maintained its leading position in the online market for July, countering claims made by Xiaomi [4][3]. - Zhu Lei provided evidence from Aowei Cloud Network, showing discrepancies between the online rankings circulated on social media and his own findings, which indicated Gree ranked second and Xiaomi third [4][8]. - Gree has been recognized for its customer satisfaction, having ranked first for 16 consecutive years according to the China Standardization Research Institute [8]. Group 2: Xiaomi's Position - Xiaomi's executives, including President Lu Weibing, acknowledged the growth of Xiaomi's air conditioning sales, citing a 53.9% year-on-year increase, emphasizing the importance of innovation in the traditional home appliance sector [9][14]. - Lu Weibing expressed gratitude for consumer support and highlighted the need for continuous improvement and innovation to transform the competitive landscape [9][14]. - Xiaomi's first-quarter financial report indicated a significant growth in its smart home appliance business, with air conditioning shipments exceeding 1.1 million units, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over 65% [14]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - The air conditioning sector has seen ongoing rivalry, with Gree and Xiaomi frequently exchanging barbs regarding market leadership and product quality [12][13]. - Gree's CEO, Dong Mingzhu, has previously criticized Xiaomi's claims of being number one, questioning the authenticity of their products and emphasizing consumer perception [13]. - Xiaomi is actively expanding its production capabilities, with a new smart appliance factory in Wuhan set to begin large-scale production by the end of the year, focusing on air conditioning [14].