This question has become a hot topic in recent years. There have been many rumors and much hearsay spread around about this or that company buying GE Appliances.
Let's clear up the confusion and answer the question.
Does GE still own GE appliances?
GE appliances used to be made and owned by GE or General Electric. The founding of the appliance division of GE is a somewhat confusing and lengthy stretching all the back to the dawn of the 20th century.
The parent company GE had been looking for a buyer for a long time. From about 2010 and onward, a number of appliance giants tried to buy GE Applainces.
Samsung and LG both South Korean global appliance makers were in negotiations to buy the popular US brand for years. However, those deals fell through.
Electrolux then entered the picture. Electrolux is a massive global appliance manufacturer headquartered in Sweden. The deal fell through after the US Justice Department determined the resulting company would own approximately 90% of the contractor market. Electrolux already owns Frigidaire appliances.
After that the search for a buyer was begun again in earnest.
Who owns GE Appliance?
So, who bought GE appliances? Was there a winner in the global appliance sweepstakes?
The next global appliance suitor to come calling was the Chinese giant Haier. General Electric was then able to sell the appliance division after years of trying.
Haier began as the Qingdao Refrigerator Co. even before the communist revolution. In the 1980s after a partnership with German appliance maker Liebherr the company truly became a global enterprise.
Haier entered the US appliance in 1999 and in 2002 moved its headquarters to New York. A manufacturing plant was open in South Carolina in 2000.
In the US, Haier focused mainly on compact and mini fridges and other small appliances like air conditioners.
When did Haier buy GE?
After a year or more of negotiations, Haier completed the purchase of GE appliances in January 2016 for $5.6 billion.
The acquisition of GE Appliances has made them the largest maker of home appliances in the world with manufacturing plants in Africa, Europe, the mideast, India, and many Asian countries.
The switch in ownership has brought sweeping changes to the operations of the century old appliance brand.
While GE appliances are still made in Louisville, KY, the new ownership has begun to focus on different models and types of appliances.
Smart appliances and luxury appliances have become a priority and investments in new technologies are being made to compete with Whirlpool, Samsung, KitchenAid, and LG.
Who sells GE Appliances?
GE Appliances remain extremely popular in the United States. They are the workhorses in many kitchens and will be for years come.
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