International tech giant launching first South African store
Hisense South Africa will open its first dedicated premium brand store at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town this November, just in time for Black Friday 2025.
The new store will serve as both a retail space and an experience centre to give South Africans a first-hand look at the global technology company’s latest innovations and locally manufactured products.
From 1 November, visitors to the store will be able to explore Hisense’s newest range of high-end televisions and home appliances.
This includes Africa’s largest television, the 116-inch UX, which is proudly produced at the company’s manufacturing plant in Atlantis. The store will also feature interactive product demonstrations and exclusive opening promotions.
For Hisense South Africa, the launch marks a significant milestone in its nearly three-decade presence in the country. The company first entered the local market in 1996 and established its Cape Town factory in 2013.
Since then, Hisense has grown from a competitive value brand into one of the leading players in South Africa’s television and appliance market.
The new store represents the next step in that journey, positioning Hisense as not only a manufacturer but also a key contributor to local skills development and technology innovation.
Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager at Hisense South Africa, says the Canal Walk launch is about more than retail expansion.
“Century City was built to represent the future of urban living in South Africa, and this store represents the future of home technology,” she said.
“For over a decade, we’ve invested heavily in South Africa’s technology ecosystem through our Atlantis manufacturing plant.”
She added that this flagship store is a natural extension of that commitment, allowing customers to experience locally made quality up close while supporting a value chain that creates jobs and transfers skills right here at home.
Committed to South Africa
The company’s Atlantis facility, located within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, recently marked 11 years of operation.
The factory employs over a thousand South Africans and has received more than R350 million in investment to date.
It produces televisions and refrigerators for both the domestic market and export destinations such as the United Kingdom and other parts of Africa.
In September, Hisense launched a new SETA-accredited learnership programme at the Atlantis facility, offering 100 young people from the area a chance to gain practical experience and develop technical skills over the next year.
Nortje said initiatives like this form a central part of the company’s local strategy. “Every milestone reflects our belief that South Africa deserves not only the world’s best technology but the opportunity to create it,” she explained.
The Canal Walk store, which is currently being finalised, has been designed to offer an immersive customer experience.
Shoppers will be able to explore Hisense’s latest innovations, from AI-powered refrigerators and Mini-LED televisions to laser projectors and smart home devices.
The store will also showcase the brand’s most advanced entertainment and home technology solutions, reflecting its growing focus on premium products.
Hisense’s broader South African operations have played a crucial role in its global growth strategy.
The Atlantis plant can produce up to one million televisions and 500,000 fridges annually, enabling the company to maintain a strong position in both local and export markets.
The facility has also contributed to Hisense’s sustainability goals by reducing import dependency and creating long-term local employment opportunities.
Globally, Hisense has become one of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers in the world, with more than 100,000 employees and 66 overseas companies and offices.
It operates high-end production facilities in Europe, Central America and South Africa, and maintains 25 research and development centres worldwide, including a strategic partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab.
The company noted that its global mission remains focused on delivering high-quality, cutting-edge, and affordable technology that enhances everyday living.
In South Africa, this mission remains rooted in local manufacturing, skills development, and innovation.
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