Why is a Chinese-made portable AC selling out across heat-stricken Europe?

Amid weeks of intense heat across Europe, a niche Chinese air conditioner has become one of the hardest-to-buy products in the region this summer, selling out within just a few weeks. A type of portable air conditioner (AC) made by Chinese home appliance giant Midea – the PortaSplit – has sold out across multiple e-commerce platforms as temperatures in parts of Europe have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The unit has gained traction in the region, in part, because it...