As Tesla eyes entry, Daikin's 'pay-per-day' AC takes off in Africa

Smartphone app unlocks cool air for $1.40

20210828Ny Africa air con team

Daikin staff prepare to deliver air conditioners in Tanzania. (Photo courtesy of Daikin)

KOSUKE TOSHI and TATSURO MIYAZUMI, Nikkei staff writers

OSAKA -- Japan's Daikin has kicked off an air conditioning "subscription" service in Africa that let's users turn on the AC -- only on days they need it -- through a smartphone app.

With no need to purchase the machine itself, users pay an initial installation fee of around $77 and roughly $1.40 for a day's use of the cool air. The first African country to receive this new service is Tanzania.

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