Gree Electric's CMO Zhu Lei recently accused Hisense of stealing its ‘100% real copper’ slogan. Yang Xiangxi, brand director of Hisense's air-con division, fired back saying that its air-cons use full copper and "replacing copper with aluminum" was an internal R&D initiative twisted by rivals. The clash highlights Gree as the only major brand rejecting the industry shift toward aluminum for lower costs.