Hurt for long by superior Japanese small appliances, domestic manufacturers are unleashing improved products

Makers of home appliances in China are improving their products to win back quality-conscious Chinese consumers who go overseas on shopping sprees.

The campaign to make new, improved made-in-China products started with the electric rice cooker. Big players such as Midea Group, Gree Electric Appliances Inc and consumer electronics major Xiaomi Corp launched high-end induction heating or IH rice cookers recently.