Asia-Pacific Region
Asia-Pacific Region
Haier entered the Asia-Pacific Market in 2001 after earning its reputation in the European and North American markets. Haier has established research, design, and development centers in Osaka, Tokyo, and Seoul. Haier is represented in markets throughout the Pacific Rim including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand, selling mainly refrigerators, freezers, front-load washing machines, household air conditioners, water heaters, microwave ovens, dishwashers, TV sets, computers, mobile phones, and commercial air conditioners.
- In September 2002, Haier's products made their debut in the New Zealand market. The October 2003 issue of Consumer ranked Haier washing machines first for overall performance out of the top 30 best-selling washing machines in New Zealand.
- In October 2002, Haier's "Whiz Kid" washing machine and the Haier Embedded Wine Cabinet won the G-MARK, the highest honor in the design field awarded in Japan. These two products were designed specifically for Japanese consumers. "Whiz Kid" washing machines are especially popular with single young upwardly mobile Japanese. Haier's Embedded Wine Cabinet follows the Japanese trend for open kitchens. In 2003, Haier designed the "classic refrigerator" especially for single Japanese women. The small front-load washing machines with an automatic drying function—the Haier ‘washing bar'—responded to Japanese consumers' problem with large-capacity washing machines.
- In 2003, Haier's "Tank" refrigerator won Japan's G-Mark Design Prize, the first Chinese refrigerator to win this award.
- In January 2004, Haier became a sponsor of the Melbourne Tigers basketball team. The team subsequently changed its name to the Melbourne Haier Tigers. All players wore the Haier logo on their uniforms as The Haier Group became the first Chinese company to sponsor a foreign sports team. In April 2004, Andrew Gates, captain of the Melbourne Haier Tigers, signed a contract with the company to become a spokesperson for Haier brand laptops.
- In November 2004, Three of Haier's refrigerators were awarded the "Top Energy Saver Award" among 13 refrigerators so named by Australia's state-authorized certification organization and far surpassed Australia's national energy-saving standard.
- On October 27, 2006, The Haier Group signed an agreement with Sanyo Company, Ltd. in Osaka to establish the Haier Sanyo Co., Ltd. joint venture.