On the evening of April 14, Zhu Lei, the Chief Marketing Officer of Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai, publicly stated that during the Shanghai Home Appliance Expo, he observed Hisense air conditioners directly using the phrase "genuine copper components" in their promotional materials—a phrase originally coined by Gree.
Zhu Lei emphasized that the slogan "genuine copper components made by Gree" gained widespread recognition across China through coverage by China Central Television. More importantly, he noted that this is not merely an advertising tagline or a conceptual claim, but a comprehensive standard. In his words: "When a brand still uses aluminum wire in motor windings, it has no right to call itself 'genuine copper components.'"
According to Zhu Lei, at Gree, "genuine copper components" is not just a slogan but a complete set of rigorous specifications. In areas visible to consumers, such as evaporator and condenser copper tubes, copper is used. In areas not visible to consumers, such as fan motor windings and compressor motor windings, copper is also used. Gree insists on using genuine copper components in four core parts across all product lines, from affordable models costing a few thousand yuan to top-tier flagship products, unlike some companies that allegedly switch to aluminum wire motors in cheaper products.
Zhu Lei remarked, "Today, you may exploit loopholes in copyright or advertising laws to copy the phrase 'genuine copper components,' but materials do not lie." He added, "We have conducted thorough market research. Before openly plagiarizing Gree's 'genuine copper components' claim, please first conduct a self-examination: which of your products use aluminum wire motors or even aluminum tubes? If you have forgotten, we can help you take stock free of charge."
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