The corporate entity was restructured as a joint-stock company in 1988 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in March 1994.[3]

Unlike many consumer electronics firms, CHANGHONG did not begin as a home appliance manufacturer. Its predecessor was established in 1958 as a state-owned industrial enterprise during China’s push to develop strategic industries in the interior. The organisation became closely associated with military electronics, particularly airborne fire-control radar systems.[4]

This defence background instilled an enduring emphasis on engineering capability, manufacturing precision, and technological self-reliance within the company.

During the 1970s, CHANGHONG began transitioning toward civilian production. In 1972, it successfully developed its first black-and-white television, marking the start of its transformation into a consumer electronics manufacturer.[5]

By the 1980s, television manufacturing had become the company’s primary strategic focus.

The company’s definitive shift occurred with the expansion of its colour television business. In 1986, CHANGHONG commenced construction of a dedicated colour TV project, subsequently expanding capacity and technological expertise through cooperation with foreign partners to establish large-scale manufacturing capabilities.[6]

Throughout the 1990s, CHANGHONG achieved significant milestones that cemented its reputation in China:

• 1992: Annual TV production exceeded one million units.
• 1994: Sichuan Changhong was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
• 1995: Recognised as China’s largest colour TV production base, earning the moniker “Color TV King”.
• 1997: Became the first Chinese manufacturer to produce over 10 million televisions, reportedly capturing approximately 35% of the domestic market.[7]

During this decade, CHANGHONG became a household name in China, occupying a position in the domestic market comparable to that of Sony or Samsung in their respective home markets.

Recognising the risks of reliance on a single product category, CHANGHONG expanded into adjacent industries. Its current business structure encompasses several key sectors.

Smart home appliances

The consumer appliance portfolio includes televisions, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, washing machines, and various smart home devices.

Core components

CHANGHONG maintains significant upstream manufacturing capabilities. A notable example is refrigeration compressors, which are critical components for both refrigerators and air conditioning systems.

ICT services

The group operates businesses involving ICT products, distribution, enterprise solutions, and information technology services.

Electronics manufacturing

CHANGHONG participates in EMS (electronics manufacturing services) and related intermediate product manufacturing.

Other industrial businesses

The wider group also engages in specialised equipment, batteries, components, and other industrial technologies.

Consequently, Sichuan Changhong now characterises itself as a global, diversified technology and electronics enterprise group rather than solely a television manufacturer.[8]

While television remains central to its identity, CHANGHONG has systematically built a comprehensive home appliance portfolio.

Air conditioners

CHANGHONG entered the air conditioning sector in 1995, establishing a major R&D and manufacturing operation in western China.[9] Over subsequent decades, the company developed residential and commercial units, including inverter models and products focused on air quality.

Refrigeration and compressors

Refrigeration represents another significant business area. The group’s involvement in compressor manufacturing provides vertical integration often absent in pure appliance brands. Its subsidiary, Changhong Huayi Compressor, has become a major global supplier with production bases in China and Spain, reporting annual production and sales exceeding 56 million units.[10]

This upstream capability distinguishes CHANGHONG from competitors that rely entirely on external suppliers for core technologies.

A pivotal development in CHANGHONG’s international branding has been the introduction of CHiQ. Positioned as a modern, smart-home-oriented sub-brand, CHiQ is associated primarily with connected televisions and intelligent appliances.

This reflects a broader corporate transition from a traditional manufacturer to a digital, IoT-focused entity. The company initiated its intelligent transformation around 2013, launching CHiQ smart TV products in 2014. Subsequent generations incorporated AI voice control and advanced connectivity features.[11]

In overseas markets, CHiQ serves as a key consumer-facing identity, although CHANGHONG remains the primary corporate and heritage brand in China and select international territories. For instance, operations in Indonesia currently market televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines under a combined CHANGHONG/CHiQ portfolio.[12]

CHANGHONG began actively pursuing international markets in the late 1990s. Indonesia was among its first major overseas targets, with an office established in 1998 followed by local operational development.[13]

The company’s internationalisation strategy evolved beyond simple exportation to include:

1. Product exports
2. Establishment of local sales organisations
3. Development of localised products
4. Overseas manufacturing facilities
5. Overseas R&D capabilities
6. Local brand building and distribution networks

The group now reports business coverage in more than 160 countries and regions, with R&D and manufacturing footprints across Europe, the United States, and Asia.[14]

Presence in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia holds particular historical significance for CHANGHONG’s overseas growth. The company commenced factory construction in Indonesia around 2000, initially focusing on televisions and air conditioners. This established a market presence in the region spanning more than two decades.[15]

Modern CHANGHONG increasingly positions itself as an AI and smart home technology provider. The company established an AI laboratory in 2017, developing technologies such as voiceprint recognition, user-intent analysis, and personalised content recommendation.[16]

In 2023, CHANGHONG introduced its “Changhong Super Brain” AI large-model technology for televisions, alongside Changhong Yunfan, an AI platform designed for smart appliances and connected home applications.[17]

This underscores a strategic direction integrating hardware, connectivity, AI, and smart home ecosystems, treating individual appliances as interconnected components of a unified household system.

The Sichuan Changhong group extends significantly beyond the consumer brand. Key listed subsidiaries and affiliated companies include:

Changhong Meiling

Specialises in refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, and other household appliances.

Changhong Huayi

Focuses on refrigeration compressors and related technologies, serving as a critical upstream component supplier for the industry.[18]

Changhong Jiahua

Primarily engaged in ICT distribution and technology-related services; listed in Hong Kong.

Zhongke Meiling

Specialises in professional refrigeration and cryogenic equipment.

These entities form an ecosystem ranging from consumer products to industrial components and ICT services.[19]

The principal listed entity is Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Stock Exchange: 600839.SH). Its controlling shareholder is Sichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co., Ltd., which is ultimately overseen through the state-owned assets administration system of Mianyang.[20]

This ownership structure links CHANGHONG’s development directly to China’s state-owned industrial system, distinguishing it from privately controlled consumer electronics competitors.

CHANGHONG’s trajectory mirrors the broader transformation of China’s electronics industry:

• 1958: Military electronics foundation
• 1970s: Transition to civilian electronics
• 1980s: Television manufacturing expansion
• 1990s: Dominance as China’s “Color TV King”
• 2000s: Internationalisation and diversification
• 2010s: Smart TV and IoT transformation
• 2020s: AI, smart home, and diversified technology group

While television remains its most significant historical association, describing CHANGHONG solely as a TV brand no longer reflects its current scope.

Historically, CHANGHONG’s positioning was rooted in Chinese manufacturing, engineering, and technological self-reliance. Contemporary messaging emphasises technological innovation, intelligent manufacturing, smart homes, AI, globalisation, product quality, and integrated component manufacturing.

The group’s stated corporate philosophy centres on technology and improving quality of life, with a strategic goal of becoming a world-class electronic-information enterprise.[21]

For consumers, the distinction between the two primary brand identities is as follows:

Branding application varies by country and product category; CHiQ functions as a sub-brand or product line within the broader CHANGHONG ecosystem rather than as an unrelated entity.

CHANGHONG occupies a distinct position in the global electronics landscape. With a history dating to 1958 and prominence as a leading Chinese TV manufacturer in the 1990s, it is an established industrial player rather than a new entrant. However, its consumer visibility in Western markets generally remains lower than that of Samsung, LG, or Sony.

Its competitive advantages historically include extensive manufacturing experience, access to large-scale supply chains, vertical integration, broad appliance and component capabilities, and established presence in emerging markets. Current figures citing operations in over 160 countries, 11 R&D bases, and 17 manufacturing bases illustrate the scale of the modern group.[22]

From a historical perspective, CHANGHONG’s development parallels the maturation of China’s electronics sector. Its success in the 1990s helped make sophisticated consumer electronics accessible to ordinary households, contributing to the transformation of home appliances from luxury items into mass-market goods.

CHANGHONG (长虹) is a Chinese electronics and home appliance brand originating from a state-owned military electronics enterprise founded in 1958 in Sichuan. After entering civilian television production in the 1970s, it became one of China’s dominant colour TV manufacturers during the 1990s, widely known as the “Color TV King.” Following its 1994 stock exchange listing, the company diversified into air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, compressors, electronic components, and ICT. Since the 2010s, it has focused increasingly on smart TVs, IoT, AI, and connected home technologies while expanding internationally through the CHANGHONG and CHiQ brands. Today, Sichuan Changhong operates as a diversified technology group with presence in more than 160 countries and regions.

Products bearing the CHANGHONG name represent a brand with nearly seven decades of industrial history rooted in military electronics and television manufacturing. Its contemporary strategy encompasses consumer appliances, core components, ICT, smart home systems, and AI.

1. 四川长虹简介
2. 投资者关系
3. 上市三十周年 四川长虹用科技点亮智造之光
4. C O N T E N T S
5. 长虹空调：28年荣耀之路，打响品牌出圈战
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8. CHiQ
9. 广交会：长虹家电国际化遇上历史机遇
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11. 四川长虹电器股份有限公司
12. About Us | Battery OEM/ODM & Global Manufacturing – Changhong
13. 电子信息产业网：长虹空调以技术破界和场景革命定义温暖幸福家
14. 合肥长虹实业有限公司环境信息公开报告
15. 合肥长虹实业有限公司简介
16. Changhong IT
17. History – Jiangsu Changhong Intelligent Equipment Co., LTD
18. About CHANGHONG – CHANGHONG CHiQ Laser Display – UK
19. Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd.
20. Historie značky – Changhong Europe Electric s.r.o.
21. OFFICIAL CHANGHONG INDONESIA Official: Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
22. Changhong