Europe has historically resisted the adoption of residential air conditioning—until this summer. Last week, France recorded its hottest week on record. The national daily average temperature reached an unprecedented high, with some localized sensors peaking at 44.3°C. In response, 72 departments—covering roughly three-quarters of the country—were placed under the highest-level red alert for extreme heat. Meanwhile, in Andalusia, Spain, temperatures surged to 45.1°C, marking continental Europe’s highest temperature extreme of the century. Amid this unprecedented heat wave, a Chinese-made portable air conditioner has become a runaway sensation across the continent. Midea Group’s "PortaSplit," a portable split-system air conditioner, has entirely sold out across Germany, Spain, and France. On