TCL Timeline

1981

Founding of TCL

1981

Incorporation of TTK Household Electronic Appliances Co., Ltd. (w/ HK) To manufacture cassettes

1985

Incorporation of TCL Telecommunication Equipment Co., Ltd. (w/ HK)

1986

Registration of TCL trademark in Trademark Office of State Administration Bureau of Industry and Commerce

1986

Developed hand-free, touch-tone telephones in China; passed quality testing

1989

TCL telephones ranked first among telephone producers in terms of sale volume in China

1991

Formed primitive shape of TCL nation-wide distribution network through establishment of the first branch of national sales and service in Shanghai, then in Ha'erbin, Xi'an, Wuhan, and Chengdu

1992

Successful launch of TCL brand big-screen color TV on domestic market

1992

Introduction of CIS system, which made TCL one of the first SOE in China to introduce CIS system

1993

Extended presence into electrical components field

1993

Set up TCL International Electrical Appliance (Huizhou) Co., Ltd.

1993

TCL Electronics (HK) Co., Ltd. Established

1993

Listing of TCL Telecommunication Equipment Co., Ltd. On Shenzhen Stock Exchage (first telecomm terminal producer in China that went public)

1994

Launch of first cordless telephone product in China

1995

Restructured into TCL Holding Group Ltd. With 3 subsidiaries of Telecommunication Group, Electronic Group, and Yuntian Group.

1995

TCL Telephone honored as the "China Telephone King" by Market Economic Research Institute

1996

Acquired Luk's Euterprise (HK) in the color television project; first SOE to acquire HK equity

1996

Listed as 1/300 key SOEs ratified by the state Economy and Trade Commission and the People's Bank of China

1997

Restructured into TCL Holdings Co., Ltd. After revocation of three subsidiaries

1997

Became first enterprise to manage state-owned assets under authorization of Huizhou government

1997

Established Henan TCL-Meile Electronic Co., Ltd. With Henan Meile Electronic Group (another leading enterprise in electronic industry in China)

1998

Signed the Package Agreement on Authorized Export Seller's Credit Line of RMB 2 Billion (between Import and Export Bank of China and TCL); TCL received great financial support in exploring overseas market and enhancing its competitiveness

1998

Established TCL Hyper Power Batteries Inc.

1998

Established TCL-GVC Computer Technology Co., Ltd. With Taiwan GVC Computer Company (moved into information industry)

1999

Certified by State Administration of Industry and Commerce as a famous brand in PRC

1999

Invested in and held controlling Goldtech Technology Co., Ltd.

1999

TCL Information Industrial Group Co., Ltd. Was founded; Ms. Wu Shihong took position of general manager

1999

TCL Appliances, Co., Ltd. Of Mongolia founded on basis of former Mongolia Rainbow TV company; offered a good channel to reform the old SOEs

1999

President Li Dongsheng made speech to make TCL a world-class Chinese enterprise; formally advocated the aim

1999

TCL Information Industrials (Group) Co., Ltd. Was establihsed

1999

TCL International Holdings Co., Ltd. Successfully listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

2000

Listed top three among China 100 prestigious Electronics & IT enterprises

2000

Formulated the new competitive strategy: developing the best products, providing the best services, and creating the best brand name

2000

Acquired the Wuxi "Hongmei" Color TV company to restructure TCL Digital Science & Technology (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.

2000

Acquired the Zhongshan "SOVA" Air Conditioner Company to restructure TCL Air Conditioner (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd.

2000

Led tideway in the Color TV firled by launching a series of New Concept TV

2000

Ejiajia Net Technology Co., Ltd. Founded in Beijing; www.ejiajia.com accessed

2000

Brand name valued at RMB 10.6 billion, ranking 1st in Guangdong and 5th in PRC

2000

Turnover exceeded RMB 20 billion, became one of the largest industrial enterprises in Guangdong

2000

Ranked 1st in Comprehensive Appraisal of Industry Enterprises in Guangdong Province

2000

Turnover ranked 27th in list of China Key Enterprises

2000

Wu Banguo, vice prime minister of State council and commissary of Political Bureau under Central Committee of CCP, visited

2001

Li Dongsheng put forward "change and innovation, deeds meets words" as the 2001 working theme

2001

KPI applied to 12 subsiding company

2001

January

Absorbed Wuxi Yonggu Electronics company; established TCL Digital Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd.

2001

February

HID299e home information display passed the science and technology fruit appraisal of Guangdong; initiated the Netized TV

2001

April

Cooperated with Taiwan Richy sotck Co. Ltd. And established TCL Richy Refrigeration Equipment (Huizhou) Co. Ltd.; remarked TCL marching into air compressor industry

2001

June

Working team of "strenghtening international competitivesness" set up to draw up the middle and long term strategy plan

2001

September

Parties to celebrate the 20th anniversary held in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Huizhou

2001

November

Third staff sports games held with success

2001

Sales volume of TCL Mobile Communication Co. reached 1.3 million sets with sales income up to 3 billion

2001

December

New management model and virtual organization structure adopted

2001

December

Multimedia Electronics Group organized by amalgamating resources of TV and AV and other household appliances

2001

Brand value was 14.469 billion in 2001; fifth in China

2002

President Li Dongsheng awarded "Annual Innovation Award" from "China Business People"

2002

TCL Vice President and Mobile Communication Co. CEO Wang Mingjian awarded "Year's Top Ten Exceptional Young People"

2002

Brand valued at 18.769 billion in 2002, sixth in China

2002

TCL cell phones ranked third in Chinese market, ranked first in domestically produced cell phones

2002

30-Jan

2002

5-Feb

2002

2-Apr

2002

16-Apr

2002

15-Jul

2002

25-Oct

2002

8-Nov

2003

February

Li Dongsheng was elected as a delegate to the 19th China's National People's Congress

2003

May

Purchased American Go-Video Corporation through capital operation

2003

11-May

National People's Congress chief Wu Bangguo visits Inner Mongolia TCL King Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.

2003

May

Ranked 4th in the list of 100 largest Chinese electronic information enterprises, with a sales revenue of 31.9 billion RMB

2003

31-Jul

Li Dongsheng delivered important speech on "Dragon and Tiger Program" which laid the foundation for the establishment of TCL's international competitiveness

2003

12-Aug

Guangzhou Digital ROWA Technology Company set up; TCL made investment in company

2003

September

TCL Group's overall listing propsal to acquire and merge with TCL Communications was approved by China Securities Regulatory Commission

2003

October

Intel-TCL 3C Joing Laboratory officially established

2003

4-Nov

TCL and Thomson Company of France joined forces to restructure color TV and DVD businesses, forming a color TV enterprise with an annual production volume of 18 million

2003

5-Dec

Brand equity valued at 26.712 billion RMB and ranked 6 nationally

2004

29-Jan

Hu Jintao and La Falan attended the signing contract ceremony for establishment of TCL-Thomson Electric Ltd. Co.

2004

30-Jan

TCL Group listed at Shenzhen Stock Exchange

2004

2-Jun

TCL held News Release Conference for Talents in Guangzhou, announcing that TCL would advertise for 2200 intermediate or high-level managerial and administrative personnel and Engineering persons who bears international background

2004

June

TCL selected as the "Most Prestigious Corporation of 2003 - 2004"

2004

9-Jun

TCL won special grade technological prize in Guangdong

2004

30-Jun

TCL at 3rd and 2nd place respectively on list for 50 biggest enterprises and the 50 biggest industrial enterprises in Guangdong

2004

14-Jul

TCL Group established TCL Household Electric Appliances (Nanhai) Ltd. Co. in Nanhai, Guangdong, and formally entered into small domestic appliances

2004

29-Jul

TTE Corporation jointly-funded by TCL and Thomson in France opened ceremoniously

2004

19-Sep

TCL (Chengdu) Digital Industrial Park started building in Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

2004

22-Sep

TCL (Wuxi) Digital Industrial Garden made its groundbreaking in the National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

2004

27-Sep

TCL Communication Technological Holdings Ltd. Co. listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange stock market

2004

10-Oct

TCL Alcatel Mobile Phone Lt. Co. (TAMP) went into operation

2004

8-Nov

TCL Household Appliances and Qingdao Electric Appliance joint-founded TCL Refrigerator QingDao Industry Garden

2004

4-Dec

TCL Grounp and Toshiba Corporation (TCM) signed Momorandum of Understanding to establish two companies, one manufacturing company mainly specializing in the manufacture of refrigerators and washing machines, and one sale company mainly in sale

2005

Sales volume of TCL color TV sets ranked first in the world

2005

20-Mar

TCL Golf Classic concluded in Sanya, Hainan

2005

17-Jun

Ranked 3rd in Top 100 Electronic Information Enterprises

2005

6-Nov

Brand valued at 33.666 billion RMB and ranked 6th nationally

2005

20-Nov

TCL Corp bestowed 2005 China Charity Award

2005

10-Dec

TCL signed asset transfer agreement with France's Legrand Corp to sell TCL International Electrical and TCL Building Technology

2006

16-Mar

TCL Golf Classic concluded in Sanya, Hainan

2006

July

Li Dongsheng released the "Eagle's Renascence" series articles, which clearly pointed out the direction for TCL's new round of reform and innovative projects.

2006

12-Aug

TCL Corporation Corporate Culture Reform & Innovation Oath-taking Rally held

2006

October

Mr. Li Dongsheng, as well as other senior managers, traveled to all the great shops at home and abroad to listen to what customers had to say face-to-face so as to understand their demands and to grasp the needs of the market

2006

9-Oct

TCL initiated the Eagle Engineering Training Program, which followed the human resource strategy of "Pay attention to middle management and build up a highly effective middle management team". One hundred middle managers were selected to participate in the first round of the training program.

2006

8-Nov

TCL Group Finance Co., Ltd was established and announced its grand vision of "Establish a World Class Corporate Bank with an International Competitive Edge".

2006

5-Dec

Brand valued at 36.2 billion RMB, moving up to 3rd nationally