AUX wagers on the U.S. HVAC market

AUX, founded in 1986, is a Chinese HVAC manufacturer that counts about 40,000 employees in more than 150 countries, and generates roughly $13 billion in annual revenue. In late 2024, it expanded into the U.S.  

What’s happening: As the company aims to compete with more established American players — which hold the lion’s share of the market — it has been touting a 12-year extended warranty on parts and compressors, a stock of R-32 products in warehouses across the U.S., and “single-person installation” features. 

What they’re saying: “Anytime you have a new brand, everybody’s always nervous because you have no brand recognition, you have no anything, so you have to have a stellar product that performs,” Josh Locker, director of technical services at AUX AIR USA, told Homepros.  

Go deeper: AUX AIR USA’s mini-split, he said, has been designed with four features that ultimately enable solo installs: A cardboard wall layout template; an integrated kickstand to hold units in place during mounting; a detachable panel for easy access during installs and service; and a built-in bubble level on the wall bracket. 

• The cardboard template coupled with a kickstand is “the best thing, because you don’t have this piece of paper you’re unfolding and trying to stretch flat,” he added. “From an installer standpoint… that alone just makes it so easy to mark your holes, and it actually speeds up the process.”

What we’re watching: Locker noted that AUX AIR USA plans to launch several new products this year, including a fixed-speed, cooling-only system to supplement its line of heat pumps. 

• “A lot of heat pump sales were rebate-driven and so, since the rebates are kind of going away… we’re going to be seeing the market shift to more of a price fighter,” he said, as “changing rebates could push some buyers to focus more on upfront cost, even as manufacturers continue investing in higher-efficiency products.”

Of note: As of press time, AUX AIR USA did not respond to follow-up questions regarding its U.S. distribution network and sales figures.