March 28, 2026, 10:27 am | Read time: 5 minutes
TCL is primarily known in Germany as a provider of TVs with a good price-performance ratio. However, the Chinese company’s product range is now much broader and includes areas such as mobile communications and smart home technology.
TCL Technology, now based in Shenzhen, was founded in 1981 in Huihou under the name TTK Home Appliances Co., Ltd. to produce audio and video cassettes. This made TCL one of the first Chinese companies to benefit from the so-called reform and opening policy of 1978—a policy that would make the People’s Republic the world’s second-largest economic player in the coming decades. Originally a state-owned enterprise, TCL transformed into one of the world’s fastest-growing companies after full privatization by foreign investors in the late 1980s.
Rise to a Global Corporation
As early as the 1990s, TCL successfully positioned itself in the global market for electrical engineering with advanced products. The next major development came with the turn of the millennium.
Through acquisitions and takeovers of foreign companies, TCL gradually evolved into a global corporation. This was in line with the vision of longtime CEO Li DongSheng, whom the U.S. business magazine Fortune named “Asia’s Best Businessman of the Year” in 2004.
DongSheng, who took over TCL in 1996 and had to navigate the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98, consistently emphasized his goal to make TCL “the Chinese Sony or Samsung.” In 2002, TCL acquired the insolvent German TV and computer manufacturer Schneider and in 2004 founded the joint venture TTE (TCL Thomson Electronics) with the TV division of French electronics manufacturer Thomson. TTE briefly became the world’s largest producer of tube televisions but was dissolved again in 2006.
Also in 2004, another French company played a significant role in TCL’s ongoing development. The partnership with French telecommunications company Alcatel allowed the Chinese to enter the mobile communications sector under the name TCL and Alcatel Mobile Phones Ltd. (short: TAMP). Just a year later, in 2005, a licensing agreement with Alcatel made TAMP a wholly-owned TCL subsidiary, now under the name TCT Mobile Limited.
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Present in 160 Countries
In the following years, the new company distributed affordable mobile phones and tablets worldwide under the name Alcatel through additional subsidiaries, such as TCT Mobile Germany GmbH. The mobile division of the company is now called TCL Communications and offers affordable smartphones in the entry-level and mid-range segments, consistently focusing on innovations. For example, the current TCL NXTPaper promises a reading experience akin to that of a paper product like a book or newspaper.
In 2007, the original slogan represented by the acronym TCL was changed from “Today China Lion” to “The Creative Life” to better reflect the company’s global character. The introduction of smart TVs in 2014 marked another significant step toward becoming a global provider. Thanks to the integration of technologies like Roku TV and Google TV, TCL devices now offer seamless access to streaming services and apps.
Today, there are more than eighty branches worldwide, including eighteen research and development centers, twenty production facilities, and forty sales offices. These ensure that TCL can offer its products and services in over 160 countries. The portfolio, which includes consumer electronics and mobile communications, has long since expanded to include computer technology and smart home areas—a range that is also reflected in the company’s self-image.
TCL’s current motto is “Inspire Greatness.” The company aims to motivate and inspire people to make more of their lives, as stated on its website. There, TCL is also described as “a globally leading brand for displays, home comfort, and mobile devices.” The announcement in February 2025 that TCL would be an “Official Partner” of the Olympic and Paralympic Games until 2032 underscores the growing recognition the company is receiving.
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Now Number Two in the TV Market
Despite all this, TCL remains primarily known in Germany for its TV division. Here, TCL has shown significant development. While TCL devices still offer an excellent price-performance ratio, the company has managed to shed its image as a purely budget provider. This was achieved through technical innovations, particularly in display technology, such as the introduction of mini-LED technology in 2018. In 2022, TCL surpassed its South Korean competitor LG for the first time, becoming the global number two among TV brands, behind Samsung.
In spring 2025, TCL unveiled a new generation of televisions designed to meet all needs—from home theater experiences to gaming demands to secondary device status—thanks to various product series.
The undisputed highlight of this product offensive was the 98-inch flagship TCL 98QM8B, which promises deep blacks, vibrant contrasts, and high peak performance thanks to the aforementioned mini-LED technology. While this comes at a price, it is one that surprises compared to the competition. The MSRP of 2,999 euros significantly undercuts competitors like Samsung, LG, Sony, etc. Additionally, the lower-positioned series also offer devices with 98-inch screens. It’s no wonder that TCL is the undisputed market leader in the segment of televisions with a 98-inch screen diagonal.