Chinese retail group JD.com has signed a co-operation agreement with US-based Carrier to create a joint omnichannel digital retail ecosystem centred on home comfort products.
As part of the arrangement, Carrier’s brands, including Toshiba HVAC and Carrier Residential & Light Commercial, will deepen their existing relationship with JD.com by combining the retailer’s online commerce infrastructure with its physical store network.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Carrier is part of Carrier Global Corporation, which is positioned in the intelligent climate and energy solutions space.
Carrier North Asia residential and light commercial comfort solutions president Mark Kwok said: “Through collaboration with JD.com, Carrier will provide one-stop comfort solutions while enhancing the purchasing and user experience for local consumers. It also supports ongoing innovation and the evolution of its business model.”
JD.com has dual listings on Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The company describes itself as China’s “largest” retailer by revenue and says it serves more than 700 million active customers annually.
JD home appliances residential air conditioning division head Zhang Jing said: “Our shared goal is to create greater value for consumers by bringing high-quality home appliances to market faster, offering more competitive pricing and delivering a consistently strong experience throughout the customer journey.”
The announcement comes as JD.com is facing increasing regulatory attention in Europe.
Last week, the European Commission (EC) issued a statement of grounds to JD.com, which is a formal step in its in-depth investigation into potential foreign subsidies linked to the company’s proposed acquisition of German retailer Ceconomy.
The EC began the “in-depth” investigation in May to determine whether JD.com had received foreign subsidies that could distort competition in the EU single market.
That investigation followed a preliminary review that raised concerns about financial support the company may have received, leading authorities to expand their examination under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Attention on JD.com has also reached beyond the EU.
Late last month, the Conservative Party reportedly urged the UK Government to review JD.com’s activities, citing concerns that the company’s growth in Britain could threaten high street retailers.
The call for review followed JD.com’s rollout of its Joybuy marketplace in the UK and five other European markets in March, part of the group’s broader push into international markets.
