Haier Continues Its Dominance as the Sole IoT Ecosystem Brand in Kantar's Top 100 for Eight Straight Years
In a significant achievement, Haier Group has been acknowledged as the world's sole IoT ecosystem brand for eight successive years by Kantar in its recently unveiled BrandZ 2026 Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. Having consistently improved its position, Haier climbed from 89th to 53rd place, attributing its success to a robust business ecosystem that transcends the typical boundaries of brand identity.
Kantar, a renowned brand data and strategy consulting firm, evaluates the brands not just based on their financial performance but also on their equity strength and future growth potential as perceived by consumers. This year, despite a volatile global economy, the total value of the top 100 global brands surged by 22% year-on-year, reaching an impressive USD 13.1 trillion. Within this landscape, 13 Chinese brands made the cut, reflecting a significant uprising of local brands amid global tech giants like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Since its inaugural appearance in the ranking back in 2019, Haier has persistently fortified its brand value, which now stands at USD 52.949 billion. This steady ascent highlights the resilience and long-term efficacy of its ecosystem brand model that has evolved significantly from a focus solely on home appliances.
According to Wang Xing, CEO of Kantar Greater China, Haier's evolution into a diversified enterprise harnessing multiple industrial ecosystems is pivotal. The company effectively integrates supply chain strength with cultural adaptability, which not only augments product value but also fosters emotional connections in global markets. This strategic approach illustrates a formidable model for Chinese industrial enterprises aspiring to build world-class brands.
The underlying drivers of Haier's success lie in its robust operational performance and an ambitious ecosystem brand strategy, which encompasses diverse fields ranging from smart homes to health, automotive solutions, digital economies, robotics, and new energy. In 2025, the company registered a global revenue of RMB 426.8 billion (approximately USD 59.8 billion), marking a 6.3% increase from the previous year, alongside a profit of RMB 32.2 billion (about USD 4.5 billion), which is a 6.7% year-on-year growth.
The architecture of Haier’s ecosystem is intricate, comprising six distinct yet interlinked industrial ecosystems: 1) Smart Home Ecosystem focuses on innovations that enhance smart living and elderly-friendly solutions, symbolized by the 'Smart Home Brain' concept; 2) Health Ecosystem where Haier's health brand, Incaier, has gained a value exceeding RMB 47 billion (approximately USD 6.91 billion), positioning itself amongst China's leading firms in pharmaceutical and health sectors; 3) Automotive Ecosystem featuring Haier's offerings like Autohome and CARtech that provide bespoke mobility solutions; 4) Digital Economy Ecosystem spearheaded by its COSMOPlat AI+ platform which excels in industrial digital transformation; 5) Robotics Ecosystem represented by Shanghai STEP Electric Co., Ltd., leading in the elevator IoT domain; and 6) New Energy Ecosystem, focusing on sustainable solutions and driving zero-carbon initiatives.
In the wake of a rapidly transforming global economic landscape, Chinese brands, including Haier, are pivoting from mere product exports to robust brand exports, with their commitment to independent brand development and technological innovation becoming pivotal in amplifying global competitiveness. Haier's global footprint now sprawls across more than 200 countries, maintaining a stronghold as the top brand in major appliances for 17 consecutive years. It currently leads the market in numerous countries, such as the U.S., Thailand, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.
Haier's ambition extends beyond the realm of home appliances. Initiatives such as Hainayun aim to leverage smart city capabilities for impactful global infrastructure projects, exemplified by its involvement with the Panama Bridge. Furthermore, Haier Biomedical's reach includes the UK Biobank, where it holds a dominant market share across multiple countries.
Amidst these achievements, AI has emerged as a transformative force within Haier's operational framework, marking the beginning of its 'AI application era' in 2025. The company is targeting to evolve into an AI-native organization by 2026, showcasing how 'Made in China' is trending towards 'Created in China', thereby presenting a model that intricately combines Chinese innovation with global adaptability.