Core Viewpoint - KONE Elevator announced a significant investment plan in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focusing on establishing a southern headquarters, R&D center, and smart logistics and assembly center, targeting modernization and digital maintenance services [1] Industry Overview - The elevator industry in China faces challenges due to a slowdown in real estate demand, which has historically been the largest revenue source, leading to overall performance declines and price wars among companies [1][2] - In the first half of 2025, 10 out of 12 listed elevator companies in A-shares reported revenue declines, with Shanghai Mechanical and Guangri shares experiencing decreases of 6.41% and 3.05% respectively [2][3] - The total revenue of 12 A-share elevator companies in the first half of 2025 was 181.25 billion, marking a five-year low [3] Market Dynamics - The competition in the elevator market is intensifying, with foreign brands holding approximately 70% market share, while domestic brands have increased their new elevator order share to over 50% as of 2023 [3][4] - The demand for elevator maintenance and modernization is expected to grow, driven by a significant number of aging elevators, with over 1 million units exceeding 15 years of service [7][9] Technological Advancements - Domestic elevator brands are focusing on digitalization and smart technologies to enhance competitiveness, with companies like Kangli Elevator and Fast Elevator investing in IoT and AI solutions [5][6] - KONE and other foreign brands are also emphasizing technological innovations, including predictive maintenance and AI algorithms [6] Policy Support - The Chinese government is supporting the modernization of old elevators through special long-term bonds, with 62 billion allocated for updating over 41,000 residential elevators [8] - Major companies like Otis and Schindler have reported significant growth in their maintenance and modernization segments, benefiting from government policies [8] Strategic Focus - Companies are shifting their strategies from merely selling products to offering services, with a focus on maintenance and modernization as key growth areas [7][11] - KONE's investment in Shenzhen aims to leverage local technological resources to enhance digital maintenance and modernization services [9][10]