Hisense
Hisense Group Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong province. Television sets are its main product, and it has been the largest TV manufacturer in China by market share since 2004. It was the world's fourth-largest TV manufacturer by market share in the first half of 2023 and the second-largest by number of units shipped in 2022. Hisense is also an original equipment manufacturer, so some of [|its products] are sold to other companies and have brand names unrelated to Hisense.
Two major subsidiaries of Hisense Group are listed companies: Hisense Visual Technology and Hisense H.A.. Both had a state ownership of over 30% via Hisense's holding company before the end of 2020.
Hisense Group has over 80,000 employees worldwide, as well as 14 industrial parks, some of which are located in China, the Czech Republic, South Africa, and Mexico. There are also 18 R&D centers located in China, the United States, Germany, Slovenia, Israel, and other countries.
History
Qingdao Number 2 Radio Factory, the predecessor of Hisense Group, was established in September 1969. The first product of the small factory was a radio sold under the brand name Red Lantern, but the company later gained the know-how to make TVs through a trial-production of black and white televisions ordered by the Shandong National Defense Office. That involved the technical training of three employees at another Chinese factory, Tianjin 712, resulting in the production of 82 televisions by 1971 and the development of transistor TVs by 1975. Its first TV model, the CJD18, was produced in 1978.Television production in China was limited until 1979, but a meeting of the Ministry of Electronics in Beijing concluded with calls for greater development of the civil-use electronics industry. Qingdao Number 2 Radio Factory was then merged with other local electronics makers and manufactured televisions under the name Qingdao General Television Factory in Shandong province.
The Hisense Group emerged in 1994 following radical changes initiated in 1992 by then-president Zhou Houjian, or perhaps even by Li Dezhen, director of the Electronic Instrument Bureau of Qingdao. The Hisense Electrical Appliance Share Holding Company was publicly listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in April 1997. Increased competition and price wars in the Chinese electronics market in the 1990s were a boon to Hisense, which gained ten failing enterprises by 1998.
Eager to expand beyond consumer electronics, Hisense Group aimed to become a regional leader in household appliances, computers and communications as well. This strategy prompted great outlays of capital on R&D and on the creation of industrial parks, etc.
Aware of the limitations in its own technology, Hisense opted to purchase technology from various companies. These include Matsushita, Hitachi, Lucent, NEC, Sanyo, Toshiba, and Qualcomm.
In 2005, Hisense developed a digital media processing chip named "HiView" for color television sets.
In 2013, Hisense invented a type of transparent 3D television.
In July 2015, Hisense bought a Mexico facility from Sharp for $23.7 million alongside rights to use the Sharp brand on televisions sold in North and South America.
In November 2017, Hisense announced it would gain a 95% controlling stake in Toshiba Visual Solutions for US$113 million. In 2018, Hisense became the majority shareholder in Slovenian appliance manufacturer Gorenje with 95.4% of shares.
In 2020, Hisense introduced the world's first 8K 10 bit HDR screen TV that is based on an AI-powered HDR algorithm and an image quality engine claiming 6.5T supercomputing power.
In May 2022, Hisense announced the launch of the company's first 4K Fire TV. The TV has a 50-inch 60 Hz display with a bezel-less design. It uses Hisense's proprietary ULED technology and comes with support for Dolby vision HDR with Fire TV built in.
Products and services
Hisense manufactures white goods, televisions, set-top boxes, digital TV broadcasting equipment, mobile devices, wireless modules, wireless PC cards, optical components, personal computers, projectors and monitors, as well as POS solutions. In 2018, Hisense released its first OLED television, and its first 8K television was released in 2021. In the early 2020s, the company has expanded into the projector market. At the 2023 CES, Hisense also presented several gaming monitors.Hisense has developed mobile devices, including regular Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as Android smartphones with e-ink displays, and other related portable devices, marketed as e-ink music players and e-readers. Hisense has created a customized version of Android called Vision. In some regions, Hisense is a major mobile phone manufacturer, primarily offering budget or mid-tier devices. In Indonesia, the company's mobile phones were largely offered under Smartfren's Andromax brand. In 2019, Hisense phones were made available in Serbia.
Although Hisense's core business are budget TVs, the company has a broad market coverage, offering devices in all price ranges. Particularly since the 2020s, the company has been offering high-end television models in large screen sizes, being the largest manufacturer of 100-inch TVs by shipment as of 2023. As of 2023, Hisense's flagship TV line is the UX series of mini LED TVs, which are positioned above the company's OLED models.
Hisense retails products under several brand names, including Hisense, Toshiba, Gorenje, Sharp, Kelon, Hitachi, Asko and Ronshen.
VIDAA
VIDAA is a Linux-based smart TV operating system developed by VIDAA USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Hisense. Introduced in 2014, VIDAA is designed to provide an integrated platform for accessing multimedia content, including streaming services, live TV, and applications, on smart televisions. It is implemented on a range of smart TVs produced by manufacturers such as Hisense, Toshiba, and Loewe. The operating system is able to aggregate content from various sources, allowing users to access content from different services from a unified platform.As of 2023, VIDAA reportedly operated on over 30 million connected devices worldwide. In 2024, VIDAA was the second most installed smart TV operating system behind Tizen.
VIDAA's partners include over 400 content providers, including services such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Viu, iQIYI, DAZN, iWant, HBO Max, Disney+, Viaplay, Crunchyroll.
Projector
Hisense entered the projector market in the mid-2010s. Popular models include the PX1-Pro and L9G, known for 4K UHD, HDR support, and advanced laser technology, offering vibrant visuals and excellent home cinema performance.Here is a list of Hisense projectors available in 2024:
- Hisense C2 Pro
- Hisense PL2
- Hisense C2 Ultra
- Hisense PX3-PRO
- Leica Cine Play 1 based on Hisense C2 Ultra with improved optical bloc from Leica
Brands
- Fridgemaster: A British fridge brand gained in 2012.
- Gorenje: Acquired 100% of shares in 2019 of the Slovenian Gorenje.
- Combine: Affixed to no frills air conditioners and refrigerators, Combine-branded products may be purchased by Chinese farmers.
- Hisense-Hitachi: A brand of commercial air-conditioners designed and manufactured by a joint venture of Hisense and Hitachi.
- Hisense Kelon: A high-end brand under Hisense can be found on refrigerators and air-conditioners.
- Ronshen: High quality, middle-end air conditioners and refrigerators retail under this brand name.
- Savor: A home appliance brand, from the eponymous Modern English word.
- Toshiba: On 15 November 2017, Hisense reached a $114 million deal to acquire a 95% stake of Toshiba Visual Solutions.
Sharp
In June 2017, Hisense was sued by Sharp under its new owner Foxconn, seeking to have the license agreement halted. Sharp accused Hisense of damaging its brand equity by utilizing its trademarks on products it deemed to be "shoddily manufactured", including those that it believed to have violated U.S. safety standards for electromagnetic radiation, and deceptive advertising of their quality. Hisense denied it engaged in these practices, and stated that it planned to defend itself in court and "will continue to manufacture and sell quality televisions under the Sharp licensed brands."
In February 2018, Sharp dropped the lawsuit.
Operations
Subsidiaries
Hisense owns over 40 subsidiaries, both inside and outside China.Hisense and Hitachi established Hisense-Hitachi Air-conditioning System Co Ltd in 2003. It designs, manufactures and markets its products, which include commercial and household central air-conditioning systems, in China. They sell Hisense-Hitachi products in Japan. It operates a commercial air-con production facility in the Hisense Information Industrial Park.
Hisense Air Conditioning Co Ltd is a subsidiary set up in the Hisense Pingdu Home Appliance Industrial Park in Pingdu, China, in 1996 to produce air-conditioners using frequency conversion air-conditioner technology purchased from Sanyo.
Hisense Australia Pty Ltd is headquartered in Qingdao, China. Hisense's Australian subsidiary helps distribute Hisense products.
Hisense Electric Co Ltd took over a modern refrigerator factory near Beijing with the help of the local government after Whirlpool withdrew from the project in 1998. Hisense Electric Co Ltd is now responsible for R&D, production and marketing of refrigerators.
Hisense-Whirlpool Electric Appliances Co Ltd is a joint venture between Hisense Kelon and Whirlpool formed in 2008 for the development and production of washing machines and refrigerators, Hisense provides this joint venture with refrigerator know-how and Whirlpool, its washing machine manufacturing expertise. The company operates a plant in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, which manufactures washing machines and large capacity refrigerators.
They created Hisense Export & Import Co Ltd in 1991, this subsidiary is tasked with establishing OEM contracts with foreign companies.
Hisense Hungary Kft is a failed subsidiary established in 2004 as a joint venture with Flextronics. It was in Sárvár, Vas County, Hungary. Hisense Hungary Kft assembled TVs.
Initially, few of the products it manufactured sold under the Hisense brand name, and they focused on OEM products instead. As of 2009, the television plant has been shut down because of falling orders, and Hisense Hungary Kft operates with a staff of 13.
In 2001, Hisense Information Technology Co Ltd created a subsidiary in Jinan, Shandong province, and this subsidiary handles infrastructure-use IT. It develops and markets security technology and intelligent traffic control products and their software.
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Ltd is listed on two stock exchanges. Hisense Kelon is a large Hisense subsidiary.
Hisense Intelligent Commercial Equipment Co Ltd was founded in 1989, this subsidiary manufactures, designs, markets and services POS terminal, electronic cash registers and other specialized peripheral equipment for retailing, tax monitoring and finance. It is also responsible for R&D and manufactures at the Hisense Yellow Island Information Product Manufacturing Park.
Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd was created in 2005. Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd has its roots in the Hisense Mobile Communications Research Institute, an R&D team created in 2000. Holding 233 patents, 64 inventions and 116 software copyrights, its products include mobile handsets, Linux OS smart phones, wireless modules, PC cards and industry customized terminals.
The government of Qingdao erased Hisense Optics Co Ltd's debts and gave its assets to the Hisense Group in 1995. This subsidiary operates a remote control factory, a degaussing coil factory and an accessory parts factory. Products manufactured include remote controls, degaussing coils and injection molded parts. It may also produce or produced optical instruments, cameras and telephones. It operates an injection molding workshop in Nancun town, Qingdao.
Hisense Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd was created as a joint venture between Hisense, Ligent Photonics Inc, et al. in 2003, this subsidiary develops fiber optic products. Its R&D facilities are in Chicago and Qingdao, and it has a production base in the latter location. It is also responsible for marketing Ligent Photonics Inc products in Asia.
Hisense South Africa Development Enterprise Pty Ltd is the company's first overseas subsidiary. This failed joint venture with South African bank NED had a factory in South Africa that manufactured televisions and home-theater equipment. It may still be responsible for R&D and distribution to local retail outlets.
Hisense USA Co is a Georgia-based subsidiary responsible for some activities in the US. Hisense USA may distribute products to retailers or establish an R&D center. Founded in 2000 or 2001, it was initially headquartered in Los Angeles. It may initially have included an R&D facility. As of 2009, it has locations in Gwinnett, Suwanee, and unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Hisense and Ligent Photonics Inc. established a joint venture in 2002. This subsidiary designs, develops and fabricates optical components for the telecommunications and data communications industries. Products are designed at its headquarters in St Charles, Illinois, and manufactured in China. This joint venture sells in North America, Europe and the Middle East through a network of sales representatives and in Asia through Hisense Optoelectronics.
Qingdao Hisense Communications Co Ltd is a subsidiary manufactures mobile phones and operates an R&D facility. Established in 2001, it has a technical cooperation effort with Qualcomm and operates a mobile phone production base in a Hisense IT Industrial Park 90 minutes from Qingdao. One of its products, the Hisense C108, is the first mobile phone to use Qualcomm's biomimetic screen technology, Mirasol, which allows it to be easily read in direct sunlight.
Qingdao Hisense Network Technology Co Ltd was established in 2004. This subsidiary grew out of an internal Hisense department, the Information Technology Center, and provides IT consultancy services.
Qingdao Hisense Property Management Co Ltd provides property management services, as well as product design, mold design, pattern making and mold processing and manufacturing, through this subsidiary.
Qingdao Hisense Real Estate Co Ltd was created in 1995. This subsidiary has over 40 completed developments in Shandong province, including residential buildings, apartments, villas, townhouses, office buildings and large industrial parks.
Qingdao Hisense TransTech Co Ltd was founded in October 1998, this subsidiary manufactures and markets electronics for urban traffic, public transport and logistics. Its products include traffic light control systems, traffic signal controllers, comprehensive public security and traffic information platforms, digital traffic violation video processing systems, public transport dispatch systems, the Hisense intelligent vehicular terminal, the Hisense mobile audio-visual intelligent vehicular terminal and electronic stop signs. Its products are marketed under the HiCon, HiECS, HiATMP, and HiDVS brand names.
As of 2005, Hisense Italy, Hisense's Italian office, may manage own-brand sales.
Wuhu Ecan Motors Co Ltd is a joint venture between Guangdong Kelon Co Ltd, Xiwenjin Co Ltd and Luminous Industrial Ltd. This company produces electric motors for the information industry and for office automation. It is in the Wuhu National High-tech and Industry Development Zone.