On March 13, China’s Ministry of Commerce launched the 2026 National Home Appliance and Digital/Smart Product Consumption Season in Shanghai, linking the campaign to the country’s trade‑in subsidy policy. Shanghai served as the main venue, with Liaoning, Guangdong, and Sichuan as linked locations in a four‑region rollout; local officials said more than 150 representatives from government, industry associations, companies, e‑commerce platforms, finance, and media attended.
Launch highlights: Shanghai main venue + four‑region rollout
The program adopts a “policy + activities” approach, positioning trade‑in incentives as part of a coordinated consumption season rather than a standalone subsidy. The launch highlighted a nationwide push, with Shanghai as the core venue and three provinces participating simultaneously to signal scale and policy alignment.
Policy signal: trade‑in becomes a “consumption season”
Alongside the kickoff, the China Household Electrical Appliances Association released a 2026 consumption‑trends white paper pointing to AI adoption and early exploration of embodied robotics, reinforcing the message that upgrades are increasingly tied to smarter, connected hardware.
What to watch next: local subsidy details and promotion cadence
Key details on subsidy levels and local implementation have not been published yet. What comes next depends on how local governments standardize their rules and how manufacturers and platforms align promotions with the rollout timeline.
Related: Midea Unveils ‘Three‑in‑One’ Strategy and MevoX Home AI Agent
