Europe AC Installation Fee Up to €1500: Chinese AC Monthly Sales Exceed 10K

Blue Whale News, June 29 - Recently, extreme heatwaves continue to sweep Europe, with Germany, the UK, France and other places repeatedly breaking maximum temperature records, and multiple countries issuing high temperature warnings.

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

Over 40°C Heatwave Continues, Multiple European Countries Issue Heat Alerts

According to CCTV News, a World Meteorological Organization official said on the 26th that the heatwave sweeping Western Europe and breaking multiple temperature records will continue to spread eastward, affecting the entire European continent.

Data show that France has been hit by heatwaves for consecutive days, with temperatures in western France rising to 43°C, setting a record for the highest temperature in June in France.

In the UK, high temperature records were broken for three consecutive days from June 24 to 26, reaching 37.3°C on the 26th. On the 26th, over a thousand schools in England and Wales were fully or partially closed.

In eastern Germany, the Mücken-Drewitz area recorded a temperature of 41.5°C on the 27th, breaking the maximum temperature record. The persistent high temperatures in Germany have caused damage to highway surfaces on multiple sections, with many sections closed or speed-limited, and railway authorities urged people to avoid long-distance travel.

Italy is also suffering from scorching heat; the Italian government has issued high temperature red alerts for 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.

Air Conditioning Demand Rises, but Penetration Rate in Europe About 20%

Although temperatures have repeatedly hit new highs, the penetration rate of air conditioning in European countries is far lower than in other major economies, with only about 20% of households equipped with cooling appliances.

The reasons are multifaceted. First, in the past, European summers, especially in the north, rarely saw prolonged high temperatures, so there was little demand for AC installation.

Additionally, to address climate change, European countries have set green development goals, with some implementing policies restricting AC use. For example, Spain introduced a regulation in 2022 that public places must not set AC temperatures below 27°C.

Chinese Brands Break Through with Cost-Effectiveness: Monthly Sales Exceed 10K

A Blue Whale News reporter interviewed a Chinese person who has lived in Paris for ten years, who said that Paris has been experiencing persistent high temperatures recently. "In previous years, even in summer, such extreme heat was rare. Walking on the street, I felt like I was melting."

Under the scorching heat, demand for home cooling has surged. According to him, in France, ordinary mobile ACs sell between €200 and €500, while split ACs are about €500 to €1,200.

Searching Amazon France, the top two bestsellers are both Midea ACs, with one model selling over 10,000 units in the past month at €166, and another selling over 7,000 units at €459.

In this heatwave, Chinese-branded ACs have stood out with their cost-effectiveness, becoming the first choice for many local consumers.

"Midea, Haier, Gree and other brands are all available in France. With the same configuration, domestic brands are generally much cheaper than European, American and Japanese brands," the Chinese person told Blue Whale News.

According to CCTV News, China's export of household air conditioners to Western European countries increased by 9.7% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026; among them, mobile AC category saw particularly strong growth, with a year-on-year increase of over 70%. Many companies reported that consumers in several Western European markets were queuing to buy, with offline stores facing shortages and supply not meeting demand.

"Affordable to Buy, Expensive to Install, Expensive to Run": Installation Fee Up to €1,500

Notably, buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; the installation hurdle truly discourages consumers. Single installation fees for split ACs generally range from €300 to €1,500, with the highest quotes even exceeding the AC unit's price.

Why are installation fees so high? Local Chinese analysis suggests that most buildings in Paris are decades or even centuries old, with thick walls that make drilling difficult compared to modern buildings.

Moreover, outdoor unit installation on high-rise residential buildings involves high-risk work at heights, and most apartments require advance installation applications to the property management, subject to approval by the owners' committee, making the process extremely cumbersome.

Meanwhile, local installation workers have high hourly rates. With multiple cost factors combined, split ACs become a product that is "affordable to buy but not to install."

Due to high installation difficulty and cost, portable mobile ACs have become the cooling choice of choice for local residents, especially renters.

However, to address European countries' restrictions on exterior wall protection and high installation costs, Chinese companies have launched customized products.

For example, the "Midea U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window AC," with a U-shaped cutout design, can be installed by inserting it into the window gap. After installation, the window can still be partially opened and closed, avoiding Europe's high split AC labor costs, property approvals, and old wall drilling challenges. It is a popular model in the overseas rental market.

It is worth noting that purchasing an AC in Europe is only the first step; subsequent electricity costs are also significant. According to local Chinese feedback, using a split AC 6-8 hours daily increases monthly electricity bills by €30-80, while less efficient mobile ACs may add €50-100 per month.

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