What Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co. does

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co., Ltd. (SMEC), founded in 1987 in Shanghai, is a Sino-Japanese joint venture between Shanghai Electric and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, controlled and managed by the Chinese side. The company designs, manufactures, and services a comprehensive portfolio of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, ranging from 20.5m/s ultra-high-speed elevators installed in Shanghai Tower (China's tallest building) down to platform-style home elevators for residential villas. Core technology includes PM synchronous traction machines, machine-room-less (MRL) designs such as ELENESSA, AI neural network group control systems, energy regeneration, and proprietary safety innovations such as CERAGear ceramic brakes. SMEC holds the #1 position among China's Top 500 real estate developers' preferred elevator supplier for 11 consecutive years and is ranked first in the elevator industry by national enterprise technology center evaluation.

SMEC operates a multi-channel go-to-market model in China: 95 direct branch offices and 800+ authorized agents serve enterprise and infrastructure customers via direct sales, while 99+ offline experience centers target the residential and villa retrofit consumer segment. Revenue is generated across four streams — new elevator and escalator hardware sales (the largest stream), recurring original factory maintenance through 700+ service outlets, modernization and upgrade services (including the LEHY-N renovation series), and smart monitoring/IoT services via the LNK platform. The company has cumulatively delivered 1.4 million elevator units domestically and exports to over 100 countries. Certifications span ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, CE, and major Asian regulatory marks.

The business model is project-based for enterprise sales with opaque contract values, while home elevator pricing is publicly disclosed (RMB 116,000-178,000 for 2-4 floor configurations depending on series). Strategic priorities evident in recent activity include the third-round joint venture renewal with Mitsubishi Electric (2026), NETEC green elevator certification (2026), expansion of the home elevator experience center network, and active pursuit of government-funded elevator renewal/retrofit projects addressing China's aging installed base. The company is unlisted, with shares held privately by the two JV partners, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co.

Legal name

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co., Ltd. (上海三菱电梯有限公司)

Website

https://smec-cn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co. is a Sino-Japanese joint venture (Shanghai Electric and Mitsubishi Electric) that manufactures and services elevators, escalators, and moving walkways across China, serving landmark supertall buildings, airports, hospitals, government infrastructure, and residential consumers via 95 direct branches, 800+ agents, and 700+ service outlets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elevator and Escalator Manufacturing

NAICS

Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921)

akta.pro primary industry

Elevator, Escalator & Vertical Transportation Installation/Service (IMAFALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Elevator Modernization & Retrofit (Controllers, Drives, Door Systems) (BPABAIAE), Elevator Remote Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance (IoT/Connected Elevators) (BPABAIAH), Escalator Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAC), Elevator, Escalator & Lift Maintenance (IMAIABAF)

Keywords

• Elevator manufacturing
• Escalator systems
• Vertical transportation
• Elevator maintenance services
• Building modernization

Headquarters

HQ city

Minhang

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Elevator and Escalator Sales: Sale of new elevators (passenger, commercial, residential, super high-speed), escalators, and automatic walkways. Includes standard and customized configurations for various building types. Primary revenue driver.
2. Original Factory Maintenance and Repair Services: Factory-authorized maintenance services (原厂保养) for elevators in use. Includes regular maintenance, repair, and parts replacement. Services offered through 700+ maintenance service outlets.
3. Modernization and Upgrade Services: Upgrade and renovation services for existing elevators (升级改造, 更新改造). Includes the LEHY-N series renovation专用电梯 for updating aging equipment, efficiency improvement packages, and aesthetic upgrades.
4. Smart Monitoring and IoT Services: LNK智慧电梯 smart monitoring system providing IoT connectivity, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance alerts. Includes building intelligent monitoring systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co., Ltd. manufactures and services a comprehensive portfolio of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, ranging from home/villa elevators and residential units to commercial passenger elevators, medical elevators, cargo elevators, and ultra-high-speed 20.5m/s elevators for supertall buildings. The company also delivers full lifecycle services including original factory maintenance, modernization and renovation, retrofitting, spare parts, smart IoT monitoring via the LNK platform, and a 10-year warranty program, supported by 95 direct branches, 800+ agents, and 700+ service outlets across China.

Product overview

Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co. (SMEC) is a joint venture between Shanghai Electric and Mitsubishi Electric offering a comprehensive vertical transportation portfolio. The product portfolio centers on the LEHY-Pro flagship intelligent elevator and spans multiple elevator categories: NexWay ultra-high-speed elevators (up to 20.5m/s for supertall buildings), mid/high-speed commercial elevators (LEHY-M-II/LEHY-H, MAXIEZ series), machine-room-less elevators (ELENESSA), small machine room elevators (LEGY-III, LEHY-S), residential/home elevators (LEON_BL_V, LEHY-L-S, MAXIEZ-LZ, Hailing platform lift), medical elevators (LEHY-ProB, MAXIEZ-B), and cargo elevators (LEHY-G). Smart service modules include LNK smart elevator IoT platform, 10-year warranty program, and upgrade/renovation services. The ecosystem integrates AI neural network group control, DigTel-II data transmission, energy feedback systems, and comprehensive smart monitoring solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEHY: Premium intelligent elevator series
• LEHY-Pro
• LEHY-M-II/LEHY-H
• ELENESSA
• MAXIEZ
• NexWay
• LEGY-III
• LEHY-S
• LEHY-N
• LEHY-L-S
• MAXIEZ-LZ
• Hailing (海菱)
• LEON-BL
• CQS
• LNK

Products and services

• LEHY-Pro Smart Elevator
• NexWay Ultra-High-Speed Elevator
• ELENESSA Machine-Room-Less (MRL) Elevator
• LEHY-M-II / LEHY-H Mid-to-High Speed Passenger Elevator
• LEHY-S Small Machine Room Passenger Elevator
• LEHY-L-S Residential Elevator
• LEHY-ProB Medical Elevator LEHY-ProB series elevator designed for hospitals and healthcare facilities, accommodating stretcher and wheelchair transport with smooth, quiet operation.
• LEHY-G Cargo Elevator LEHY-G cargo elevator designed for transporting goods, equipment, and freight in commercial, industrial, and warehouse applications.
• LEHY-N Renovation Elevator LEHY-N renovation elevator designed specifically for replacing old elevators in existing buildings, integrating self-developed patented technologies including CERAGear ceramic safety brake, awarded the Good Design Award 2024.
• MAXIEZ Series Elevator MAXIEZ series passenger elevator for commercial and public buildings, available in MAXIEZ-M/H (mid-to-high speed), MAXIEZ-LZ (home), and MAXIEZ-B (medical) variants. Includes a high-speed self-developed variant capable of 10 m/s, launched in 2022.
• LEGY-III Small Machine Room Passenger Elevator LEGY-III small machine room passenger elevator for residential and commercial buildings where space efficiency is required without sacrificing ride quality.
• LEON_BL_V Home/Villa Elevator LEON_BL_V elevator designed for residential villas and high-end private homes, emphasizing aesthetic integration, compact footprint, and quiet operation.
• Hailing Platform Home Elevator Hailing Platform residential elevator for individual home installation with tiered retail pricing (RMB 115,999 to RMB 128,000 per tier), targeted at villa and multi-floor homeowners.
• MAXIEZ-LZ Home Elevator MAXIEZ-LZ residential passenger elevator for private homes and duplex apartments, offering tiered retail pricing by floor and configuration.
• MAXIEZ-B Medical Elevator MAXIEZ-B series elevator designed for hospital and healthcare facility use, sized for stretcher and wheelchair transport with antibacterial finish options.
• Escalators and Auto Walkways Public transit escalators and moving walkways for airports, metro stations, railway hubs, shopping malls, and large commercial complexes, including 172 units deployed at Beijing Capital Airport.
• LNK Smart Elevator IoT Service Cloud-based IoT monitoring and data transmission service for elevator fleets, providing real-time status, fault prediction, and remote diagnostics using DigTel-II data transmission technology, awarded the Good Design Award 2025.
• Original Factory Maintenance Service Direct factory-authorized preventive maintenance and repair service delivered through SMEC's own network of 700+ service outlets and 95 direct branches across China, using original manufacturer spare parts.
• Modernization and Upgrade Service Service for upgrading existing elevators with new control systems, drives, doors, and safety components to extend service life and improve performance.
• Elevator Renewal Service Full replacement service for end-of-life elevators in existing buildings, removing old equipment and installing new SMEC units with minimal disruption.
• Retrofitting Elevator Installation Service Service for installing new elevators in existing residential buildings that did not originally have an elevator (加装电梯), addressing aging multi-story residential communities in China.
• 10-Year Warranty Service Extended 10-year quality warranty program on new elevator equipment and core components, providing long-term peace of mind for property owners and developers.
• CQS Customized Quick Service Tailored rapid-response customization service allowing customers to specify non-standard configurations, finishes, or performance requirements for elevator orders.
• Spare Parts Supply Original manufacturer spare parts supply service for SMEC and compatible elevator brands, supporting maintenance operations across the installed fleet.
• Online Repair Service Digital repair request channel allowing customers to report faults and request service online, integrated with the LNK platform and local service outlet dispatch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Elevator speed of 20.5m/s achieved in Shanghai Tower — China's tallest building
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (三菱电机株式会社)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1987Joint venture founding partner and technology licensor. Mitsubishi Electric provides core elevator technology including high-speed elevator systems, PM synchronous motor technology, and advanced control systems. Shanghai Mitsubishi dynamically introduces Mitsubishi Electric's latest products including machine-room-less elevators, small machine-room elevators, and high-speed elevators. The JV has been operating since 1987 with Mitsubishi Electric as the Japanese partner.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KONE: Finland-based global elevator and escalator company with strong presence in service and modernization. Direct competitor in commercial and residential elevator markets with comparable IoT and predictive maintenance offerings.
• Hitachi Elevator (China): Major Japanese elevator manufacturer with significant Chinese operations. Direct competitor across residential, commercial, and high-speed elevator segments in the China market.
• TK Elevator (ThyssenKrupp): Germany-based elevator company spun out of ThyssenKrupp, offering similar high-speed, commercial, and service capabilities. Strong competitor in premium segments with comparable IoT platform (MAX).
• Canny Elevator: Major Chinese domestic elevator manufacturer focused on residential and commercial segments. Competes directly with SMEC in mid-tier Chinese market with lower-cost positioning.
• Hyundai Elevator: Korean elevator manufacturer with comparable high-speed, residential, and maintenance offerings. Competes in commercial and infrastructure projects across Asia.
• SJEC Corporation: Chinese elevator manufacturer competing primarily in residential and standard commercial segments. Direct competitor for Chinese real estate developer contracts.
• Schindler Group: Swiss multinational elevator and escalator manufacturer with similar product breadth across high-rise, commercial, and residential segments. Competes in landmark projects and service contracts globally.
• Fujitec: Japanese elevator manufacturer with global presence in passenger, freight, and escalator products. Competes in similar commercial and high-rise segments with comparable modernization services.
• Otis Worldwide: World's largest elevator and escalator manufacturer with comparable product portfolio spanning high-speed, commercial, residential, and service segments. Direct global competitor across multiple end markets including China.

Others

• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation: Japanese parent JV partner providing core elevator technology, PM motor technology, and control systems. Not a direct competitor but provides the foundational technology platform for SMEC's premium product lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shanghai Mitsubishi Elevator Co.