A very large group of multinational corporations operate in China, both Western and otherwise. China is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and its inhabitants make up almost 20% of the world’s population. Since its adoption of free-market principles, China has become one of the world’s most hyped investment locations. As an emerging market economy, China presents a promising opportunity to many investors. In 2011, for the first time, China’s urban population outnumbered its rural population.
Western multinationals such as Yum! Brands, which owns Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell, have been expanding rapidly in China. The number of Pizza Hut franchises it operates in China more than doubled between 2009 and 2013. Western technology companies such as Apple have also seen enormous success in China. For its fiscal quarter ended that ended on Dec. 27, 2014, Apple reported a 70% increase in revenue in greater China (which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong).
Other Western multinationals currently operating in China include McDonald’s, which opened its two-thousandth restaurant in China in 2014. A large number of non-Western multinationals also operate in China — for example, the Japanese car manufacturers Toyota, Mitsubishi and Subaru and the giant Korean multinationals Samsung, Hyundai, LG (Lucky Goldstar) and Kia.
Many Chinese multinationals are also growing rapidly. Examples of Chinese multinationals include DJI Innovations, Haier, Lenovo and Datang Telecom. Lenovo is a good example of a healthy and significant Chinese multinational. In 2014, its operating income was just over a billion dollars. DJI, which makes the Phantom series of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has also seen rapid growth in the last two years due to the exploding drone market.