Editing Haier (section)

==History==
The origins of Haier date back to a refrigerator factory built in [[Qingdao]] to supply the Chinese market in the 1920s. After the [[China#People's Republic (1949–present)|1949 establishment]] of the People's Republic of China, the factory was then taken over and turned into a [[state-owned enterprise]].<ref name=fuhistory/>

By the 1980s, the factory had a debt of over [[renminbi|CN¥]]1.4 million and suffered from dilapidated infrastructure, poor management, and lack of [[quality control]]s, resulting from the [[planned economy|planned economic system]] and relevant policies.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://en.people.cn/english/200108/08/print20010808_76828.html | title=Haier Rises Through Reform and Opening Up | work=[[People's Daily]] | date=8 August 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101215459/http://en.people.cn/200108/06/eng20010806_76638.html |archive-date=1 January 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Production had slowed, rarely surpassing 80 [[refrigerator]]s a month, and the factory was close to bankruptcy. The Qingdao government hired a young assistant city-manager, [[Zhang Ruimin]], responsible for a number of city-owned appliance companies. Zhang was appointed the managing director of the factory in 1984.<ref name=fuhistory/>

===Founding===
Haier was founded as '''Qingdao Refrigerator Co.''' in 1984. With China opening up to world markets, foreign corporations began searching for partnerships in China. One of these, Germany's refrigerator company [[Liebherr]], entered into a [[Joint venture|joint-venture]] contract with Qingdao Refrigerator Co., offering technology and equipment to its Chinese counterpart. Refrigerators were to be manufactured under the name of '''Qindao-Liebherr''' ({{zh|t=琴島-利勃海爾|s=琴岛—利勃海尔|p=Qíndǎo—lìbó hǎi'ěr}}). The current brand "'''Haier'''" came from the last two syllables of the [[Transliteration of Chinese|Chinese]] [[transliteration]] of Liebherr ({{zh|p=lìbó hǎi'ěr|c=}}).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wipo.int/web/ip-advantage/w/stories/branding-for-a-global-transformation | title=Branding for a Global Transformation | work=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sohu.com/a/129334417_467215  |date=2017-03-19 |title=Hǎi'ěr rúhé chéngwéi qǐyè "chuàngxīn jiàokēshū"? |script-title=zh:海尔如何成为企业"创新教科书"？ |trans-title=How Haier became an “innovation textbook” for enterprises |website=Lishi Business Network |publisher=[[Sohu]] |language=zh}}</ref>

The installation of Liebherr's equipment and technology was accompanied by new quality control and management processes. By 1986, Qingdao Refrigerator had returned to profitability and grew in sales at an average of 83 percent annually. Between 1984 and 2000, sales grew from [[CNY]] ¥3.5 million to ¥40.5 billion.<ref name=fuhistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Haier-Group-Corporation-Company-History.html |title=History of Haier Group Corporation – FundingUniverse|access-date = 15 January 2016}}</ref>

In 1988, the municipal government asked Haier to take over some of the city's other ailing appliance manufacturers. The company assumed control of Qingdao Electroplating Company (manufacturing [[microwave]] ovens).<ref name=fuhistory/> In 1991, the company changed its name to "'''Qingdao Haier Group'''" and acquired Qingdao Air Conditioner Plant and Qingdao Freezer.<ref name=fuhistory/> The company's name was simplified to its current name "Haier" in 1992.<ref name=fuhistory/> In 1995, the company took over Qingdao Red Star Electronics Co., a [[washing machine]] manufacturer, along with five of its subsidiaries.<ref name=":0" /> Haier acquired seven companies between 1995 and 1997, and began exporting to foreign markets.<ref name="cc">{{Cite web |title=Chinese Champions - Patente Made in China |url=http://www.chinese-champions.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Studie_Chinese_Champions.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207222721/http://www.chinese-champions.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Studie_Chinese_Champions.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-07 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Chinese Champions |pages=19–23 |language=de}}</ref>

===International expansion===
In Southeast Asia, Haier opened production facilities in [[Indonesia]] in 1996 and the [[Philippines]] in 1997<ref name=fuhistory/> and failed in an attempt to enter the [[Thailand|Thai]] market due to the presence of local competitors.<ref name=fuhistory/>

Haier entered the US market in 1999.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy1/BSTR072.htm |title=Haier Group's Strategies in the US Market |publisher=IBS Center for Management Research |year=2003 |type=Case study |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In the US it focused upon two [[niche market]]s in compact refrigerators and electric [[wine cellar]]s. Haier began to manufacture full-sized refrigerators for North American market. This would bring it into direct competition with established American companies [[GE]], [[Whirlpool Corporation|Whirlpool]], [[Frigidaire]], and [[Maytag]]. As part of its strategy, Haier built a production facility in the United States at [[Camden, South Carolina|Camden]], South Carolina, opened in 2000. By 2002, US revenues reached [[USD]] $200 million, still small compared to its overall revenue of $7 billion.<ref name=fuhistory/> Also in 2002, Haier moved into the [[Greenwich Savings Bank Building]] in [[midtown Manhattan]]. Formerly the headquarters for the [[Greenwich Savings Bank]], the {{convert|52000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building was built in 1924 in the [[neo-classical style]].

Production facilities were constructed in [[Pakistan]] in 2002 (see [[Haier Pakistan]]) and [[Jordan]] in 2003. In Africa, Haier has plants in five countries: [[Tunisia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Egypt]], [[Algeria]] and [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2005-06-28 |title="We will be volunteer 'spokespersons' for Haier," African party officials say |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200506/28/eng20050628_192698.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802082150/http://en.people.cn/200506/28/eng20050628_192698.html |archive-date=2 August 2017 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=People's Daily Online }}</ref> The company also purchased a Meneghetti's factory in [[Italy]] and began placing its products in European retail chains, either under its own brand or under [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] agreements with foreign partners. 

Haier Appliances ([[India]]) P. Ltd initiated its commercial operations in January 2004. Its headquarters is in New Delhi, and in 2015 it had 33 operations, including those in [[Mumbai]], [[Bangalore]], [[Chennai]], and [[Kolkata]]. It was listed among the top 20 most trusted brands in India by The Brand Trust Report, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory.

In June 2005, Haier bid to acquire [[Maytag Corporation]], backed by [[private equity fund]]s [[Blackstone Group]] and [[Bain Capital]]. The bid was for US$1.28 billion, or $16 per share, topping a previous offer of $14.26 per share made by [[Ripplewood Holdings]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2005/07/20/haier-withdraws-maytag-bid/f05586dd-097d-41b8-8cee-99c3bd17a72b/ | title=Haier Withdraws Maytag Bid | first1=Peter S. | last1=Goodman | first2=Ben | last2=White | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=July 20, 2005 | url-access=registration}}</ref> However, Maytag was bought by [[Michigan]]-based [[Whirlpool Corporation]] which offered $1.7 billion in cash and stock, or $21 per share, plus assumed debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtoonline.com/content/article/Aug05/MaytagAcquisitionFinal082205.asp|title=Done Deal; Whirlpool Acquires Maytag For $2.7 Billion|date=13 May 2023 }}</ref>

In 2008, Haier entered into a [[joint venture]] agreement with the government of [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.elclip.org/la-fabrica-de-haier-quedo-en-blanco/?lang=en | title=Haier’s white goods factory in Venezuela draws blanks | work=Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística }}</ref>

In 2009, Haier surpassed Whirlpool to become the fourth largest refrigerator producer in terms of sales with a global market share of 6.3%.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2009-01/19/content_7410164.htm | title=Haier leads in global refrigerator sales | first=Yu | last=Hongyan | work=[[China Daily]] | date=19 January 2009}}</ref>

In 2012, Haier Group acquired the appliance business from New Zealand-based [[Fisher & Paykel]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-haier-fisherpaykel-takeover-idUSBRE8A505J20121106 |title=China's Haier to take complete control of NZ's F&P Appliances |last=Tajitsu |first=Naomi |work=[[Reuters]] | date=6 November 2012}}</ref> and [[Sanyo]]'s Southeast Asian appliance manufacturing unit.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.haier.com/my/about-haier/news/20190604_74016.shtml |title=Haier Completes Sanyo Acquisition in Southeast Asia |date=30 March 2012 |work=Haier |access-date=December 28, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705104921/https://www.haier.com/my/about-haier/news/20190604_74016.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2016, Haier Group acquired [[GE Appliances]], headquartered in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], from [[General Electric]] for $5.6 billion.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://pressroom.geappliances.com/news/ge-completes-sale-of-appliances-business-to-haier | title=GE Completes Sale of Appliances Business to Haier | publisher=[[GE Appliances]] | date=6 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/its-official-ge-appliances-belongs-to-haier/ | title=It's official: GE Appliances belongs to Haier | first=Ashlee Clark | last=Thompson | work=[[CNET]] | date=6 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/01/15/investing/ge-haier-appliances-sale/index.html | last=Riley | first=Charles | title=China's Haier buys GE's appliance unit for $5.4 billion | work=[[CNN]] | date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

In October 2018, Haier acquired Italy based [[Candy (company)|Candy group]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-10-01/haier-washes-into-europe-with-italian-appliance-takeover-101331811.html | title=Haier Washes Into Europe With Italian Appliance Takeover | first=Fran | last=Wang | work=[[Caixin]] | date=1 October 2018}}</ref>

By 2020, Haier had been the world's number one home appliance brand for 12 consecutive years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Haier – the number 1 global major appliance brand for 12 years running|url=https://www.ertonline.co.uk/news/haier-the-number-1-global-major-appliance-brand-for-12-years-running/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=ERT|date=14 January 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In October 2024, Haier Smart Home acquired Carrier Commercial Refrigeration from [[Carrier Global]] for $775 million.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/haier-smart-home-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-carrier-commercial-refrigeration-302265552.html | title=Haier Smart Home Successfully Completes Acquisition of Carrier Commercial Refrigeration | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=2 October 2024}}</ref>