Core Viewpoint - KONE Elevator has announced a significant investment plan in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including the establishment of a southern headquarters and a research and development center in Shenzhen, aimed at supporting high-quality urban development in the region [1][2]. Group 1: Strategic Investment and Headquarters - KONE's southern headquarters in Shenzhen is expected to be operational by early 2026, creating a "dual headquarters, collaborative linkage" model in China [2]. - The new headquarters will focus on regional market expansion, customer service, and resource integration, enhancing operational management and local responsiveness in the Greater Bay Area [2][3]. - The collaboration with Qianhai aims to leverage the area's industrial ecosystem, geographical advantages, and efficient policy support to promote resource allocation and industrial upgrades [1][3]. Group 2: R&D and Service Innovation - KONE plans to establish a research and development center in Shenzhen, focusing on elevator modernization and digital maintenance services, capitalizing on the city's strong innovation environment [3][4]. - The R&D center will work on personalized elevator modernization solutions and enhance digital maintenance services in commercial buildings through partnerships with companies like Vanke Group [3][4]. Group 3: Supply Chain and Logistics - KONE is developing a smart logistics and assembly center in collaboration with Shenzhen Metro Group and Vanke Group, which is expected to improve supply chain efficiency in the Greater Bay Area [4]. - The logistics center, set to be operational by October, aims to reduce delivery times for modernization solutions by 20%, enhancing responsiveness to regional customer needs [4]. Group 4: Market Dynamics and Competitive Strategy - Despite challenges in the real estate market, KONE's elevator modernization business is experiencing strong growth, driven by the increasing need to update aging elevators [5][6]. - Currently, there are approximately 11 million elevators in use in China, with less than 10% being classified as old (over 15 years), but this percentage is expected to rise as the overall stock ages [6]. - KONE emphasizes its competitive advantages through a fully digitalized ecosystem and sustainable solutions, aiming to reshape the elevator industry with innovative technologies [6].

Core Insights - KONE Group is increasing its investment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as it approaches its 30th anniversary in China by establishing a southern headquarters and R&D center in Shenzhen [1][2][3] - The company is shifting towards a "service-oriented" strategy, focusing on elevator modernization and maintenance services, while leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance safety and efficiency [1][3][7] Investment in Greater Bay Area - KONE's CEO Philippe Delorme emphasized the commitment to "in China, for China" through the establishment of the southern headquarters in Shenzhen, aiming to contribute to the development of a world-class city cluster [2] - The strategic partnership with Qianhai aims to utilize the region's advantages for efficient resource allocation and industrial upgrading [2][3] Dual Headquarters Strategy - The southern headquarters in Qianhai will focus on the Greater Bay Area, while the headquarters in Kunshan will oversee national operations, creating a dual headquarters model [3] - KONE plans to enhance local team building and establish cross-regional collaboration mechanisms for real-time sharing of information, resources, and talent [3] Urban Renewal Projects - KONE announced a collaboration with Shenzhen Metro Group and Vanke Group to develop a smart logistics and assembly center, with the logistics center expected to be operational by October [4] - The elevator modernization business has become a significant growth area for KONE in China, with double-digit order growth for three consecutive years [4] Market Potential - The Chinese elevator market is vast, with approximately 11 million elevators in use, and the proportion of elevators over 15 years old is rapidly increasing, indicating a growing need for modernization [4][5] - KONE's customized solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of different residential complexes and buildings [5] Artificial Intelligence Integration - KONE is advancing digitalization across its operations and exploring AI applications in maintenance and smart detection [7] - The company has developed a knowledge database and AI solutions to improve safety and efficiency in elevator operations [7] Sustainable Solutions - KONE aims to promote energy feedback technology across its product line, potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 70% [7] - The recent elevator modernization project in Kunshan achieved a 50% reduction in daily energy consumption per elevator [7] Industry Collaboration and Innovation - KONE supports the "anti-involution" initiative, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and long-term value in building a healthy industry ecosystem [8] - The company advocates for an open and innovative digital ecosystem to empower the entire industry and ensure safety in elevator maintenance [8]