CHINA BRIEF | World’s largest aircon manufacturer begins sales of not-for-profit masks

Gree Electric, the world’s largest residential air conditioner maker, has started selling its own masks via a WeChat mini-program—Dong Mingzhu’s Store, named for the Zhuhai-based company’s charismatic chairwoman—since Monday, according to Dong Mingzhu’s official WeChat account.

Gree’s KN95 masks cost RMB 5.5 (USD 0.79) apiece, much lower than other KN95 masks made by other companies currently available, usually priced above RMB 24 each, according to local media outlet 36Kr.

Gree, which can produce up to 2 million masks daily, limits sales to one box per WeChat user per day. Because demand continues to exceed the supply, customers wanting masks must place a preorder in the morning and hope their names will be announced in the afternoon as recipients.

Dong told the media that the company is not currently profiting off the sale of its masks, which is instead a public service.

36Kr is KrASIA’s parent company.

This article is part of KrASIA’s “China Brief” section, where KrASIA’s reporters will provide quick daily updates about the tech ecosystem in China.