Chinese-made power bank gains spotlight after Trump-Musk interview

In a live conversation featuring former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a Chinese brand, Anker, unexpectedly gained widespread attention online, after some netizens discovered that the power bank used by Trump was likely made by the company.

A photo shared on social media shows Trump in his office, conversing with Musk via smartphone, with a magnetic power bank likely from the Chinese brand Anker Innovations prominently in use, as reported by Phoenix New Media.

The power bank was then widely promoted on Chinese social media platforms, with Anker Innovation's official Douyin account labeling the product as the model used by Trump. The power bank is priced at 399 yuan ($55.7). As of press time, it has sold 787 units. The same model lists for $89.99 on Amazon in the U.S., where it has sold over 3,000 units over the past month.

Finally our turn on the wheel of fortune! How could you expect the winner of Trump-Musk talk to be the China Anker power bank, according to a post on the company's official Weibo account.

Anker Innovation's shares edged up 0.65 percent to 54.27 yuan on China’s A-share market on Tuesday.

The company didn't respond to a query by the Global Times on the matter as of press time on Tuesday.

Anker Innovations, established in 2011, ranks among China's largest consumer electronics brands with key products including power banks, chargers, cables, and Bluetooth devices. The company claims over 80 million users across more than 100 countries and regions on its official website.

China is a major exporter of consumer electronics, with companies like Anker Innovations, Ugreen, and Baseus leading the market in mobile accessories and power banks. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China exported 1.83 billion lithium-ion batteries in the first half of the year, representing a 5.2 percent increase from the previous year.

Anker's 2023 annual financial report reveals a revenue of 17.5 billion yuan, a 22.85 percent increase from the previous year. Charging and energy storage products accounted for the largest share of revenue, totaling 8.604 billion yuan, which is 49.14 percent of the total revenue. The company's highest earnings come from the North American market, amounting to 8.37 billion yuan, or 47.81 percent of its total revenue.