Chinese giants like TCL, Hisense, Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Haier are turning massively to Europe due to a saturated domestic market. Their products, more innovative than a decade ago, appeal to French consumers often unaware of their Chinese origin. This discreet wave of imported tech goods reaches about 20 billion euros annually.
Commercial dynamics between France and China have dramatically reversed. At the end of the 20th century, French presidents took leaders of major French tech companies on trips to China, a country then eager for innovations. Two decades later, Emmanuel Macron urged, during his recent visit to Beijing and Chengdu, better transfer of Chinese technologies to Europe.
Less in the spotlight than the influx of Shein or Temu packages, a significant wave of 'made in China' tech products has flooded France in recent years. Computers, smartphones, household appliances, and consumer electronics were among the top goods imported from China last year, totaling about 20 billion euros.
Among these players, Lenovo leads with its computers, while Hisense offers refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines. TCL, the world's second-largest TV maker, expands into appliances and air conditioners. Xiaomi and Haier round out this landscape, providing a varied range that competes with established brands. These Chinese firms, once seen as less advanced, have invested in innovation to capture European markets, where buyers appreciate the quality without always identifying the products' origin.