Schneider Electric Executive: China Remains a Key Growth Engine Amid AI and Electrification Push

At the 2026 Hannover Messe, Schneider Electric reinforced its long-term commitment to the Chinese market, highlighting the country’s central role in driving both business growth and global sustainability efforts.

Marc Fromager, Senior Vice President and Head of Industrial Automation Business, stated in a recent interview that China represents a “critical growth driver” for the company. He pointed to the country’s vast market scale and its accelerating transition toward low-carbon development as key factors shaping Schneider Electric’s strategy.

China’s Dual Carbon Goals Fuel Growth Opportunities

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” targets—peaking emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060—Schneider Electric is advancing solutions that combine artificial intelligence (AI) and electrification to support enterprise-level decarbonization.

Fromager emphasized that China is not only a large market but also a global leader in sustainable transformation, creating strong demand for digital and energy-efficient technologies.

Showcasing Software-Defined and AI-Driven Solutions

At Hannover Messe, Schneider Electric presented its latest innovations across five themed areas: software-defined automation, energy efficiency optimization, high-efficiency production, workforce empowerment, and secure operations.

These demonstrations highlight the company’s focus on integrating electrification with open, software-defined automation and AI technologies—an approach designed to address industrial pain points while enabling smarter and more flexible operations.

AI Deployment Moves from Concept to Scale

Schneider Electric has already deployed more than 100 AI use cases across its global industrial operations, spanning supply chain management, manufacturing execution, and quality control.

According to Fromager, the real value of AI lies in its practical application:

“The key is to focus on specific use cases and ensure real-world implementation.”

Looking ahead, two major directions are expected to drive large-scale AI adoption:

• Software-defined automation, shifting industrial systems from hardware-centric to software-centric architectures

• AI-enabled electrification, accelerating the transition from fossil fuel-based systems to electric alternatives

Expanding Digital and Low-Carbon Use Cases in China

Schneider Electric is actively supporting China’s industrial transformation through a range of localized applications:

• In the renewable energy sector, the company has delivered digital solutions for waste-to-energy plants in Shanghai, improving data visibility and decision-making efficiency

• In the energy industry, it has supported smart power plant projects in Inner Mongolia, using simulation and process optimization to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions

• It offers end-to-end services, from sustainability consulting to digital transformation implementation

• Through its “lighthouse factories,” including facilities in Wuhan, Schneider Electric integrates electrification, AI, and software-defined automation into its own operations, creating scalable models for customers

Outlook: Electrification and AI to Define the Next

Fromager noted that over the next five years, China’s industrial landscape will be shaped by accelerated electrification and deeper digitalization. Demand for electrification solutions is expected to continue rising, while AI will serve as a key enabler for both upgrading existing systems and supporting new infrastructure development.

As these trends converge, Schneider Electric aims to play an active role in supporting China’s transition—leveraging its combined strengths in digitalization, energy management, and industrial automation.

Industry Perspective

Schneider Electric’s emphasis on China underscores a broader industry shift: global technology providers are increasingly aligning their innovation strategies with regions leading in energy transition and industrial modernization.

With AI moving rapidly from pilot projects to scaled deployment, and electrification becoming a cornerstone of decarbonization, China is set to remain a pivotal market shaping the future of industrial technology.