The Strange Journey of the Dishwasher in China

Dishwashers are seen as the "glue" of modern families in China, but many people who buy them never use them even once.

Robotic floor cleaners, washer dryers, dishwashers... are important inventions that solve big family disputes such as who does the laundry, who cleans the floor, who washes the dishes... Many people praise the dishwasher as a machine that frees their hands and keeps the family peaceful. But many people also regret it and say that this machine only wastes electricity and space.

Unlike Western countries where dishwashers penetrate households up to 70%, after ten years of presence in China, Only about 3.5% of households have this device installed, which is a modest number in the home appliance industry in China.

Why is it difficult for dishwashers to penetrate the Chinese market?

Despite the positive reviews, one of the biggest complaints Chinese users have about dishwasher is not fully automatic as imagined. Before putting dirty dishes into the machine, the user must rinse them and pour out leftover food.

Although dishwashers solve the cleaning problem, they also create many other complications such as choosing water softener salt, dishwashing powder, polish...

Further complicating the issue is the cultural peculiarity of China, which is rich in greasy food. A survey published by iResearch in 2023 found that 52.5% of users said they were afraid that the machine would not clean these stains. Many people also washed them by hand out of concern.

Chinese users complain that dishwashers do not clean all grease and take up space.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Another problem is that the reality is that bulky dishwashers cannot fit into small kitchens. By the end of 2023, the average housing area per capita in urban China will be about 40 ^square meters. Housing in large cities is even smaller. So many families are not willing to "sacrifice" this rare space for a dishwasher.

Finally, there is the issue of price. Dishwashers are still an item associated with middle-class families with stable incomes, not a common item for every household. According to data from Aowei Cloud Network, the average retail price of dishwashers on e-commerce sites in China in the first half of 2024 was 4,344 yuan (15.2 million VND). While the retail price at offline stores is about 8,017 yuan (28 million VND). This is still a high price compared to the income level in China and many Asian countries.

Another chance

However, dishwashers still have a chance to appear more in Chinese families. While large manufacturers find it difficult to reduce product prices and reach ordinary users, domestic brands have found a new opportunity. They find ways to reduce the maximum price for these machines while still ensuring the core criteria. For example, Xiaomi products cost 1,000 - 4,000 yuan (3.5 - 14 million VND), competitive prices and a diverse product range give users more choices.

A small dishwasher model of a Chinese domestic brand

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Chinese brands are also pursuing a strategy of “full localization” by introducing kitchen-sized versions that can clean the deep dishes and pots typical of Chinese people. They are also developing specialized cleaning technologies such as high-energy bubbles to address the habit of eating greasy foods. Many domestic models also integrate functions such as sterilization, drying, plaque removal and more.

The "China Dishwasher Patent Innovation Study" report said that in 2024, the market share of domestic brands will surpass that of foreign brands for the first time. The top 10 Chinese manufacturers account for about 66.3% of the total market share.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hanh-trinh-ky-la-cua-may-rua-chen-o-trung-quoc-185251122084516878.htm