Hasee
Chinese budget PC maker known for low-cost laptops and desktops.
Hasee is a Chinese computer maker based in Shenzhen, Guangdong. By 2008, it had become the country’s second-largest PC manufacturer, selling its products both domestically and internationally. The company built its reputation on stripped-down, budget-friendly machines—some of its 2003 desktops were considered among the cheapest available in China, and a 2008 laptop cost just over $370.
The company’s history began in July 1997, when it launched its own motherboard brand, Panying. In January 2002, a television ad campaign on CCTV—promising a Pentium 4 computer for ¥4,880—brought Hasee widespread attention. That May, construction started on the New World Industrial Park. Hasee moved into laptop production in February 2003, and later that year, chairman Wu Haijun ranked 18th on the Hurun “IT Rich List” with a net worth of 1 billion yuan. Around the same time, the company entered the South Korean market.
In November 2005, Hasee set up a Commercial OEM Division, and by May 2006 it was planning a push into Germany. It expanded into the Middle East in January 2007. A setback came in 2008, when defective Nvidia graphics chips sparked a “Graphics Card Scandal,” but Hasee continued growing and entered Japan in May 2009.
Hasee attempted to go public multiple times. In July 2010, it planned to list on the ChiNext board, formally applying on March 22, 2011. The next day, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) rejected the application—the company’s third failed attempt. In July 2011, Hasee launched its Lipad tablet, and in September it submitted a fourth listing application. The CSRC approved the request in July 2012, but the decision drew public skepticism over whether Hasee had “beautified” its financial statements and concerns about long-term profitability. In September 2012, media reported that falling sales had led Hasee to close several subsidiaries and distributors, as well as two of its four factories, and that some production land was being leased out under the name of chairman Wu Haijun’s parent company, New World Group. In May 2013, nearly a year after approval, Hasee voluntarily withdrew its listing application because it couldn’t submit a required self-inspection report on time.
Hasee’s product line includes laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, and panel PCs.
Quick Facts
- Romanized Name
- Shēnzhèn Shì Shénzhōu Diànnǎo Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī
- Founded
- 3 January 1995 (as Shenzhen New World Industrial Co., Ltd) · 2001 · 1 · 15 (as zh-as · Hasee 神舟电脑)
- Founder
- Wu Haijun
- Hq Location City
- Shenzhen, Guangdong
- Hq Location Country
- China
- Area Served
- Worldwide
- Key People
- Wu Haijun · (Chairman and President) · Jean Tafazzoli · (CEO for European market)
- Industry
- Computer hardware / Electronics
- Products
- Personal computers, cell phones
- Revenue
- 46.24 billion (2010)
- Net Income
- 2.58 billion (2010)
- Parent
- Hasee Group
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hasee began in July 1997 by introducing its own brand of motherboards, Panying. The company gained significant public attention in January 2002 with a 'bring a Pentium 4 home with ¥4880' advertisement campaign on CCTV, which quickly boosted its popularity. Construction on the New World Industrial Park began in May 2002, and Hasee started producing laptops in February 2003. That same year, chairman Wu Haijun was ranked 18th on the Hurun 'IT Rich List' with a net worth of 1 billion yuan, and the company entered the South Korean market.
In November 2005, Hasee's Commercial OEM Division was officially established, and the company began planning entry into the German market in May 2006. By January 2007, it expanded into the Middle Eastern market. In 2008, Hasee faced a setback when a defect in some of Nvidia's graphics chips led to the 'Graphics Card Scandal.' Despite this, the company entered the Japanese market in May 2009. In July 2010, reports indicated Hasee was planning to list on the ChiNext board; after multiple failed attempts, its request was approved in July 2012, but the decision was met with public skepticism over whether financial statements had been 'beautified.' In September 2012, media reported declining sales led to the closure of several subsidiaries and distributors, as well as two of four factories, with some production land reportedly leased out for profit. Hasee withdrew its listing application in May 2013.
Reader's Guide
Hasee's significance lies in its role as a major Chinese PC manufacturer that aggressively competed on price, making computers accessible to a broader domestic market. Its 2002 CCTV campaign and low-cost models—such as a laptop for just over US$370 in 2008—exemplified its strategy of offering no-frills systems at competitive prices. The company's history of multiple failed attempts to go public, culminating in a withdrawn application in 2013 amid skepticism about its financial reporting, highlights the challenges it faced in sustaining growth and transparency. The 2008 Nvidia graphics chip defect scandal was a notable setback, yet Hasee continued to expand internationally into markets including South Korea, Germany, the Middle East, and Japan. Its legacy includes a wide product range—laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, and panel PCs—and a manufacturing footprint that once spanned 400,000 square meters. However, reports of factory closures and land leasing in 2012 suggest a contraction in its operations. Hasee remains a notable example of a Chinese white-box computer maker that leveraged low pricing to gain market share but struggled with long-term profitability and corporate governance.
Did You Know?
- In 2008, Hasee was the second largest Chinese computer maker.
- Hasee's 2002 'bring a Pentium 4 home with ¥4880' campaign on CCTV quickly boosted its popularity.
- Hasee withdrew its ChiNext listing application in May 2013 after being unable to submit a required self-inspection report on time.
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