In China’s $2.4 billion PLC market (2023 data), foreign giants like Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Omron still command 70% of the share, but homegrown brands are mounting a challenge. This article explores the competitive landscape, key players, and the evolving dynamics shaping China’s automation future.
With a 40%+ market share, Siemens remains unrivaled. Its dominance stems from:
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Ecosystem Strength: The TIA Portal software and PROFINET industrial Ethernet protocol create seamless integration across factories.
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Reliability: Modular designs and robust testing ensure stable performance in extreme environments, such as high-temperature automotive assembly lines.
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Customer Loyalty: Despite supply chain disruptions in 2020–2022, Siemens’ market share hit a new peak, driven by end-users’ trust in its “proven and enduring” reputation.
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Mitsubishi: A Japanese powerhouse, Mitsubishi historically dominated southern China’s light industry with compact PLCs like the FX series. Its ladder logic programming remains a benchmark for domestic developers.
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Omron: Specialized in motion control, Omron’s EtherCAT solutions are critical in lithium battery and photovoltaic production lines, often paired with domestic servo systems.
As the top domestic brand, Inovance challenges foreign incumbents through:
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Servo Leadership: Its servo motors captured 23% of the market in 2024, surpassing Siemens and Yaskawa.
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Product Breadth: The AM series targets medium-to-large systems, while the fully localized Easy series competes in small PLC segments.
Known for its laser focus on PLCs, Xinje claims:
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Cost-Effectiveness: Its small PLCs, priced 30–50% lower than Mitsubishi equivalents, won 15% of the small PLC market in 2023.
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Innovation: Models like the XC series support high-speed pulse outputs (200kHz) and EtherCAT connectivity, appealing to non-standard machinery manufacturers.
A rising star since 2017, Gongbei PLCs stand out for:
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Compatibility: Full backward compatibility with Siemens S7-200 modules, allowing seamless replacement in legacy systems.
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Affordability: Sales of 50,000 units in 2024 demonstrate its appeal to cost-conscious SMEs.
In 2021, Baosight made headlines by launching China’s first fully localized large PLC, breaking a 99% foreign monopoly in high-end industrial control. Its success in metallurgical applications (e.g., cold-rolling mills) signals a shift toward self-reliance in critical sectors.
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Technology Gap: Foreign brands still outperform in high-speed control and scalability. For example, Siemens’ S7-1500 handles 100,000+ I/O points, while most domestic models max out at 10,000.
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Ecosystem Dependence: Engineers prefer Siemens’ TIA Portal or Mitsubishi’s GX Works due to familiarity and comprehensive support.
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Policy Support: “Made in China 2025” and subsidies for chip localization accelerate R&D.
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New Markets: Lithium battery and IoT sectors offer growth opportunities. For instance, Xinje’s EtherCAT solutions are now used in 15% of Chinese PV plants.
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Cost & Flexibility: Domestic brands respond faster to customer needs. Inovance’s customized servo-PLC packages cut costs by 20% for electronics manufacturers.
| Brand |
Market Position |
Unique Selling Point |
| Siemens |
Market leader (40%+) |
Ecosystem integration, reliability |
| Inovance |
Top domestic brand (8% share) |
Servo-PLC synergy, localization |
| Xinje |
Small PLC specialist |
Cost-effective, EtherCAT-ready |
| Gongbei |
Siemens-compatible budget option |
Plug-and-play replacement for legacy systems |
| Baosight |
Large PLC disruptor |
First fully localized high-end solution |
While Siemens retains its throne, Chinese PLC brands are gaining traction through innovation and strategic partnerships. Inovance’s servo dominance, Xinje’s niche expertise, and Baosight’s breakthrough in large systems suggest a gradual shift toward balanced competition. As the country prioritizes automation and supply chain resilience, domestic PLCs are poised to capture 25% of the market by 2030, reshaping the global industrial control landscape.
