ASKO appliances are made by ASKO Appliances AB, a Swedish appliance brand founded in 1950 that is today owned by the Hisense Europe Group, a division of Hisense, the Chinese multinational electronics and appliance company, through its acquisition of the Slovenian Gorenje Group in 2018.
ASKO is a premium Scandinavian appliance brand best known for its all-stainless-steel dishwashers, front-load washing machines, and dryers, operating under the brand tagline “Inspired by Scandinavia” with management and product development headquartered in Lidköping, Sweden.
ASKO Appliances AB is a subsidiary of Hisense Europe Group, headquartered in Velenje, Slovenia, which acquired the entire Gorenje Group in 2018 and with it the ASKO brand and its Slovenian production infrastructure.
Knowing that ASKO is a Swedish-designed brand now manufactured in Slovenia under Chinese Hisense ownership helps explain the brand’s ongoing Scandinavian identity and premium market positioning even as its corporate structure has changed significantly since its Swedish founding.
This article covers who makes ASKO appliances, where they are produced, who owns the brand, its history, how it compares to a rival, and whether the appliances are any good.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes ASKO Appliances?
ASKO appliances are made by ASKO Appliances AB, which manages the brand’s product development, engineering, and design from its headquarters in Lidköping, Sweden, while manufacturing takes place in Slovenia.
The European manufacturing company behind ASKO appliances has earned the EcoVadis Platinum Medal, the highest distinction in EcoVadis’s sustainability ratings and reserved for the top 1% of companies worldwide, reflecting its commitment to responsible manufacturing.
ASKO focuses primarily on dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers for the North American market, where it imports only these laundry and dishwashing categories rather than its full European lineup.
ASKO is a FIFA World Cup 2026 sponsor, using the global platform to build awareness of the brand’s precision and performance values, as confirmed on ASKO’s company profile.
Where Are ASKO Appliances Made?
ASKO appliances are manufactured in Velenje, Slovenia, where Gorenje Group’s primary production facility is located, following the transfer of all ASKO production from Sweden to Slovenia in 2013.
Washing machine and dryer production moved to Velenje in February 2013, followed by dishwasher production in July 2013, completing the full migration from the original Swedish manufacturing base.
Product development, engineering, and management remain in Lidköping, Sweden, allowing ASKO to maintain its Scandinavian design identity and quality standards even with production based in central Europe.
In November 2022, Cylinda washing machines made in Turkey began appearing in the ASKO product ecosystem, and the brand continues to leverage global manufacturing partnerships within the broader Hisense Europe group.
Who Owns ASKO Appliances?
ASKO is owned by Hisense Group through its Hisense Europe subsidiary (formerly Gorenje Group), which acquired ASKO as part of the Gorenje acquisition completed in 2018.
The ownership chain for ASKO traces: Karl-Erik Andersson founded it in 1950, Asea acquired it in 1978, Finnish furniture company Asko acquired it in 1988, Antonio Merloni Group acquired it in 2000, Gorenje Group acquired it in 2010, and Hisense acquired Gorenje in 2018.
Despite its Chinese ultimate ownership, ASKO continues to operate as a premium brand under European management with Swedish design leadership, maintaining a distinct identity within the Hisense portfolio.
Hisense’s full brand portfolio including ASKO is documented in Hisense’s corporate profile.
What Is the History of ASKO?
ASKO was founded in 1950 by Karl-Erik Andersson in Jung, Vara Municipality, Västergötland, Sweden, with Andersson’s original invention being a high-capacity washing machine he developed partly to ease his mother’s manual laundry burden in a rural Swedish community.
The company introduced a fully automatic front-loading washing machine and a compact dishwasher in 1965, and in 1984 introduced the modern washing machine design with four shock absorbers and no springs that became an industry standard.
After passing through Asea, Finnish Asko furniture, and the Italian Antonio Merloni Group, ASKO was acquired by Slovenian Gorenje Group in 2010, which then moved all production to Slovenia in 2013 before Hisense acquired Gorenje in 2018.
In 2025, ASKO released its new Celsius oven series with precise temperature control and advanced connectivity, and collaborated with Eero Aarnio Originals for a Ball Chair installation at Milan Design Week, reaffirming its Scandinavian premium positioning.
ASKO vs Miele: How Do They Compare?
ASKO and Miele are the two most frequently compared premium European dishwasher and laundry brands competing in the North American high-end appliance market.
Miele is a German family-owned company that manufactures all its own products in Germany, with a broader product range covering dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, and coffee systems at a consistent premium price tier.
ASKO competes at a slightly lower price point than Miele, focusing on dishwashers and laundry, with all-stainless-steel construction that echoes Miele’s engineering ethos at a more accessible premium cost.
For buyers who want Scandinavian design, full stainless steel dishwasher construction, and strong energy efficiency at a lower entry cost than Miele, ASKO is a natural and well-regarded alternative.
Are ASKO Appliances Any Good?
ASKO appliances are well regarded by independent dealers and premium appliance buyers for their Scandinavian build quality, all-stainless-steel dishwasher interiors, and strong energy and water efficiency performance.
The brand’s dishwashers in particular earn consistent praise for their cleaning performance, quiet operation, and the visual appeal of their full stainless steel interior design that no other major brand matches at the same price point.
ASKO has a rigorous testing protocol, including a door open-and-close cycle test of 300,000 repetitions to prove durability before a dishwasher model enters production, reflecting the brand’s commitment to longevity.
The Hisense ownership has created some concern among premium buyers about the brand’s long-term direction, though ASKO continues to maintain distinct Scandinavian design and independent European management under the Hisense Europe Group structure.
For buyers who want full stainless steel dishwashers and premium Scandinavian-designed laundry appliances at a lower entry price than Miele, ASKO remains a strong and well-engineered premium choice.
For more on related premium appliance brands, see Who Makes Blomberg Appliances and Who Makes Dacor Appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions About ASKO Appliances
Who makes ASKO appliances?
ASKO appliances are made by ASKO Appliances AB, a Swedish brand now owned by Hisense Group through its Hisense Europe (formerly Gorenje) subsidiary. Management and design are in Lidköping, Sweden; manufacturing is in Velenje, Slovenia.
Where are ASKO appliances made?
ASKO appliances are manufactured in Velenje, Slovenia, following the transfer of production from Sweden to Slovenia in 2013. Product development and management remain in Lidköping, Sweden.
Is ASKO owned by Hisense?
Yes. Hisense Group owns ASKO through its Hisense Europe subsidiary, having acquired the Gorenje Group, which owned ASKO, in 2018. ASKO continues to operate as a premium brand under Swedish design leadership within the Hisense Europe group.
What is ASKO best known for?
ASKO is best known for its all-stainless-steel dishwashers, which are unique in the premium market for using stainless on the interior where most brands use plastic. It also makes high-performance front-load washing machines and dryers with a Scandinavian design aesthetic.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.