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All of this has been hailed by Chinese media as a win for Made in China goods - a label that is commonly associated with more low-quality, often cheaply made products.
"The fact that Chinese air conditioners have become a necessity for Europeans is not merely a trade phenomenon, but a microcosm of 'Chinese-style empowerment'," reads a commentary by state media outlet People's Daily.
In fact, European PortaSplit owners tell the BBC that they were surprised to find out it comes from a Chinese brand.
"The marketing and design, it was not typical to what I was used to of older Chinese products. It was more modern," says Scholtysek in Germany. "Also, when I got it, the quality was comparable to what I was used to from Europe or somewhere else."
Launched in Germany in 2024, the PortaSplit is advertised on its website as a combination of "German engineering" from Midea's research centre in Stuttgart with "Italian design".
This is part of a "general shift" in the image of Chinese tech products, Scholtysek says, from drone maker DJI to electric vehicle brands.
And after buying the PortaSplit, Scholtysek even decided to buy shares of Midea stock - a sign of his confidence in the company's prospects.
This confidence is also shared by those at Midea. Ralph Kobsik, the general manager of Midea's Europe operation, told the BBC in a statement that they "see considerable long-term growth potential in Europe".
He added that the company would "continuously invest in technologies that meet the specific requirements of European consumers".
One of those satisfied consumers is Adrien Olar in France, who recently bought his first air-conditioner: a Midea PortaSplit.
"This is maybe my first Chinese product," the 26-year-old says, describing it as a "revolution". For days before his PortaSplit arrived, he had resorted to squirting water on his face to keep cool at home.
But those days are behind Olar now: "It's like going into a fridge when I go into my room. It's a very, very good difference."
