Samsung Electronics' Wind-Free Air Conditioner Creates a Sales 'Storm' Overseas in the First Half of This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Samsung Electronics' Wind-Free air conditioner, first introduced domestically in 2016, is creating a sensation in overseas markets as well.

According to Samsung Electronics on the 2nd, sales of household Wind-Free air conditioners in overseas markets in the first half of this year showed a clear growth trend, increasing by more than 75% compared to the same period last year.

The Wind-Free air conditioner is a new concept air conditioner independently developed by Samsung Electronics that delivers cool air through up to 270,000 tiny micro-holes, so the wind does not directly touch the skin, enabling comfortable cooling. Based on this technology, the Wind-Free air conditioner has already established itself as a representative air conditioner in Korea, accounting for more than 80% of Samsung Electronics' air conditioner sales domestically as of last year.

A Samsung Electronics employee is introducing the Wind-Free Air Conditioner at the smart home showroom within the Italy branch. Photo by Samsung Electronics

Overseas, it was launched in Europe and Thailand in 2017 under the name 'WindFree' and has gradually expanded its market, currently being sold in 80 countries, with plans to expand sales channels to about 90 countries in the future.

In particular, in North America and Europe, the Wind-Free air conditioner accounted for more than 40% of Samsung air conditioner sales in the first half of this year, setting an impressive record, and it achieved a 24% share even in the relatively lower purchasing power Latin American region. This is interpreted as due to consumers increasingly seeking Wind-Free air conditioners, which provide more comfortable cooling and save electricity bills, as time spent at home has increased due to COVID-19.

Samsung Electronics is carrying out various activities to widely promote the advantages of Wind-Free air conditioners in overseas markets, including not only existing store displays but also strengthening online marketing and expanding online education for product installation and maintenance through collaboration with distributors.

Lee Kang-hyup, Vice President of Samsung Electronics' Home Appliance Business Division, said, "Following the Wind-Free air conditioner becoming a trend in Korea, it has been recognized for its innovation overseas and is evaluated as a premium air conditioner," adding, "We will further enhance the status of the Wind-Free air conditioner in the global market going forward."