Unlocking business acumen: Karcher's journey at import expo

In 2018, renowned German company Karcher made its debut at the first China International Import Expo. Over the past five years, Karcher has been doubling down on the Chinese market and making the transition from being merely an exhibitor to a strategic investor.

Within just six months after the first CIIE, Karcher invested 380 million yuan ($52.14 million) to establish its China headquarters in Changshu, Jiangsu province. This new facility allowed the company to integrate its manufacturing plants, research and development centers, and sales companies, and refine its brand development and operations in China.

During the fourth CIIE, Karcher introduced an innovative artificially intelligent cleaning robot, which was jointly developed with a Chinese tech firm. The new product was well-received by Chinese consumers and has garnered widespread praise. With the help of Karcher's global sales network, the new AI cleaning robot has been distributed worldwide.

The global R&D center of Karcher in Suzhou, with 100 million yuan in investment, started operating on Aug 10, only a year after its inception. The new center will not only undertake the company's product and technology R&D for both the Chinese and global consumer markets, but help the company foster deep connections and collaborations with domestic and international enterprises, universities, research institutes, and innovation platforms.

By participating in the CIIE, Karcher has broadened its communication channels with its users, established numerous new connections, gained valuable insights into the latest consumer trends, and recognized the significance of promoting localization to meet market demands.

At this year's expo, Karcher has booked an 800-square-meter booth. "We are looking forward to joining hands with more industry partners at the sixth CIIE to share the huge opportunities of China's big market," according to Aaron Tang, president of Karcher Great China.

About CIIE

The China International Import Expo has been held for five consecutive sessions and become an excellent window for observing the investment strategies of foreign enterprises. China is a populous country and the improvement of people's health, the perfecting of the supply chain system and the optimization of the business environment have made foreign enterprises see the enormous potential of the Chinese medical device market. Many foreign enterprises have taken advantage of the CIIE to transform from being exhibitors to investors, expanding their business layout in China.