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Tosot’s history is rooted in Gree Electric Appliances. In 1989, Zhuhai City Haili Cooling Engineering Company Limited was founded in Zhuhai, Guangdong, one of China’s first special economic zones. The company assembled household air conditioners from outside components and entered a market already contested by foreign brands with stronger engineering bases and established reputations.

In 1994, the business was restructured and renamed Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai. Around the same time, Dong Mingzhu joined the company as a sales manager and later became its long-term leader. She promoted direct distribution rather than reliance on intermediaries and demanded stricter production standards. In November 1996, Gree listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under the code 000651, gaining access to capital for production growth.

Through the 1990s and 2000s, Gree expanded factories and invested in research laboratories, aiming to move beyond assembly under foreign licenses. The company worked in a market led by competitors such as Japan’s Daikin and the American company Carrier. Against this background, Gree created Tosot as a separate international brand, intended for a higher price segment than basic mass-market air conditioning products.

Tosot began entering international markets in 2005, selling air conditioners and split systems. By 2014, the brand had built a presence across Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa, supported by dealer networks and certification work. In 2012, Gree became the first Chinese home appliance maker to reach revenue above 100 billion yuan, providing the parent company with resources for overseas expansion. Tosot Philippines Corporation was founded in 2015, and in 2018, Tosot Direct began promoting air conditioners, heat pumps, and dehumidifiers in the United States, a market dominated by Carrier and Daikin.