Frigidaire appliances are made by Electrolux AB, a Swedish multinational home appliance company that acquired the Frigidaire brand from General Motors in 1986.
Frigidaire is known as one of the most recognized home appliance brands in the United States, with a heritage stretching back to 1918 and a product range that covers refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers, dryers, and air conditioners.
Frigidaire is a subsidiary of Electrolux, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving as the Swedish company’s primary consumer appliance brand for the North American market.
Knowing who makes Frigidaire helps buyers understand the corporate ownership and European parent behind a brand that many Americans associate with purely domestic heritage.
This article covers Frigidaire’s founding, Electrolux’s acquisition, where Frigidaire appliances are made, its current product range, and how it compares to Whirlpool and GE.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Frigidaire?
Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux AB, a Swedish publicly traded corporation headquartered in Stockholm and listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange.
Electrolux purchased Frigidaire from General Motors in 1986 for approximately $165 million, acquiring one of the most established appliance names in North America as part of its strategy to build a global home appliance business.
Under Electrolux ownership, Frigidaire operates as the company’s flagship brand for the North American mass market, positioned at the accessible end of the price spectrum while sibling brand Electrolux itself occupies a more premium tier.
When Was Frigidaire Founded?
Frigidaire traces its origins to 1918, when William C. Durant, a co-founder of General Motors, personally invested in the Guardian Frigerator Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The company adopted the Frigidaire name in 1919 under GM ownership, and the brand became so synonymous with refrigerators in the early 20th century that many Americans used “Frigidaire” as a generic term for any refrigerator.
General Motors owned Frigidaire for over 60 years, using it to apply automotive manufacturing efficiency to home appliances. GM eventually sold the brand to Electrolux in 1986 as part of a broader shift away from non-automotive businesses.
Where Are Frigidaire Appliances Made?
Frigidaire manufactures a significant portion of its appliances in the United States. A major Frigidaire refrigerator production facility operates in Anderson, South Carolina, and has been producing refrigerators there for decades.
Electrolux North America also operates manufacturing in Springfield, Tennessee for cooking appliances and in other locations across the US for various product categories.
Some Frigidaire products, particularly air conditioners and smaller appliances, are manufactured overseas. The country of origin is printed on each product’s packaging and rating label.
What Appliances Does Frigidaire Make?
Frigidaire’s product range covers most major kitchen and laundry appliances. Refrigerators include top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French door, and side-by-side configurations. The range lineup covers freestanding and built-in gas and electric options.
Frigidaire also produces dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, microwaves, wall ovens, cooktops, and room air conditioners. The Frigidaire Gallery and Frigidaire Professional sub-lines target the mid-range and premium segments respectively.
The full Frigidaire lineup is available at Frigidaire’s official website and at major retailers including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Sears.
Frigidaire vs Whirlpool vs GE: Who Makes Each?
All three are major appliance brands but come from different parent companies. Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux, a Swedish company. Whirlpool is an independent American company headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan. GE Appliances is owned by Haier, a Chinese company.
Frigidaire and Whirlpool are the two most directly competitive brands in the US mass-market appliance segment. Both offer broad product ranges at accessible price points and sell through the same major retail chains.
GE Appliances targets a slightly higher price tier with its GE, Profile, and Café lines. Frigidaire’s Gallery and Professional sub-lines compete with GE’s mid-range Profile products.
What Is Electrolux and Where Is It Based?
Electrolux AB is a Swedish multinational home appliance company founded in 1919 and headquartered in Stockholm. It is one of the largest home appliance manufacturers in the world by revenue.
Electrolux owns brands including Frigidaire (North America), AEG (Europe), Westinghouse (appliances in North America and Australia), and the Electrolux brand itself in the premium tier globally.
Electrolux has been investing in US manufacturing in recent years, maintaining its Anderson, South Carolina and other US facilities as part of a commitment to North American production for its flagship brands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Frigidaire
Is Frigidaire an American brand?
Frigidaire is an American brand in heritage and US operations, but it is owned by Electrolux AB, a Swedish company. It was founded in the US in 1918, owned by General Motors for over 60 years, and then sold to Electrolux in 1986. Its North American headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Is Frigidaire owned by GE?
No. Frigidaire has no ownership connection to GE. Frigidaire is owned by Electrolux (Swedish). GE Appliances is owned by Haier (Chinese). The two brands are direct competitors in the North American appliance market.
Are Frigidaire appliances made in the USA?
Many Frigidaire appliances are made in the United States, including refrigerators from the Anderson, South Carolina plant and cooking appliances from Springfield, Tennessee. Some smaller appliances and air conditioners are made overseas. The country of origin is listed on each product.
Who makes Frigidaire appliances now?
Frigidaire appliances are designed and manufactured by Electrolux North America, the US operations of Swedish parent company Electrolux AB. Electrolux has owned the Frigidaire brand since 1986 when it acquired it from General Motors.
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.