First, the name change
If you are comparing quotes and seeing both “Fujitsu” and “GENERAL”, here is what happened.
On 1 Jan 2026, Fujitsu General Australia changed its business name to GENERAL Australia. This followed the integration of Fujitsu General Limited into Paloma Rheem Holdings Co., Ltd. in August 2025, and a global move to the trading name GENERAL Inc.
What this means for you:
- Products are still sold under the FUJITSU and GENERAL AIRSTAGE brands. The company has said it will transition away from the Fujitsu name over time
- GENERAL says the name change has no impact on its business operations. If you already own a Fujitsu system, keep your warranty documents as they are
- The consumer service line is now called General Assist, formerly Fujitsu General Assist
- The long-running “Australia’s Favourite Air” positioning and brand ambassador Mark Taylor have been retained
If your installer quotes a Fujitsu unit, you are buying from GENERAL Australia. There is no difference in the product.
Company background
GENERAL Inc. (formerly Fujitsu General Limited) was founded in Japan in 1936, initially making radios and home electrical appliances. It entered the air conditioning business in 1960 with a window-type cooler (company history).
The Australian arm began in 1974, so the company has been selling air conditioners here for more than 50 years. Some older sources give 1936 as the Australian founding date, which is incorrect: that is the Japanese parent’s founding year.
The company launched the first high static ducted air conditioning system in Australia in 1993, and introduced its AIRSTAGE VRF commercial range here in 2001.
The range
- Wall-mounted split systems, including the Lifestyle range, with capacities from 2.5kW to 9.5kW cooling
- Multi-split systems
- Ducted systems, a long-standing strength for the brand
- Ceiling cassettes, floor consoles and bulkhead units
- AIRSTAGE VRF for commercial applications
The breadth of indoor unit styles is one of the brand’s strengths, particularly if you need something other than a standard high-wall unit.
Warranty
GENERAL Australia provides a 5 year full parts and labour warranty on all domestic air conditioning systems sold in Australia. That is a simple, whole-of-range warranty rather than one that varies by model, which makes comparison easier.
What the Government’s energy register shows
The Australian Government’s Energy Rating register lists 163 current Fujitsu and GENERAL registrations for sale in Australia, as at . Manufacturers have to register every air conditioner sold here with the energy efficiency regulator, along with its tested efficiency.
- Bedroom size (2.0 to 3.0kW wall split, reverse cycle): the most efficient of 5 rates 5 stars for cooling and 3.5 for heating in the average climate zone
- Living area size (6.0 to 8.0kW wall split, reverse cycle): the most efficient of 8 rates 4 stars for cooling and 2.5 for heating
The stars come from the manufacturer’s own tests, submitted to the regulator. They are a fair guide to running cost, not to reliability, and a half-star difference between brands is not worth choosing on. A registration stays listed until it expires, so not every one is still on sale. Check the label for the exact model you are quoted, or look it up on the Energy Rating calculator.
Source: Energy Rating data, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. Data as at .
Who the brand suits
A good fit if:
- You want a simple, whole-of-range 5 year parts and labour warranty
- You need a particular indoor unit style, such as a floor console, cassette or bulkhead unit
- You are buying ducted and want a brand with a long history in Australian ducted systems
- You want a national service network
Look elsewhere if:
- You want the longest available warranty. Some brands offer 7 years, though the terms differ
Before you buy
Get the model number on every quote. With the brand transition underway, you may see the same unit described as Fujitsu by one installer and GENERAL by another.
Compare your quotes for the same capacity, and check what each includes for electrical work, mounting, commissioning and removal of the old system.
A reminder about installation only a licensed technician can install an air conditioning system. Anyone installing or servicing a refrigerated air conditioner needs a Refrigerant Handling Licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council. Handling refrigerant without one is an offence. You can check any installer’s licence on the national register at lookforthetick.com.au. Our guide to choosing a reliable installer covers what else to check.