Thermador appliances are made by BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a subsidiary of BSH Hausgerate GmbH, a German company wholly owned by the Bosch Group since 2015. Thermador sits alongside Bosch, Gaggenau, and Siemens within that same corporate family.
Despite its German ownership, Thermador remains an American brand at its core, founded in 1916 and still headquartered in Irvine, California. Most Thermador ranges, ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers are manufactured at BSH’s own factories in the United States.
This article covers who owns Thermador, where its appliances are actually manufactured, its founding history, and how it compares to its sibling brand Bosch.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Thermador?
Thermador is owned by BSH Home Appliances Corporation, the US subsidiary of BSH Hausgerate GmbH, headquartered in Munich, Germany. BSH has been fully owned by the Bosch Group since January 2015, after Bosch bought out Siemens’ half of what was previously a joint venture. Current product lines are shown on Thermador’s official website.
BSH acquired Thermador in 1998 and has kept it as a distinct, US focused luxury brand rather than folding it into the broader Bosch label. BSH reported turnover of roughly 15.3 billion euros in 2024 and operates dozens of factories across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Within BSH’s portfolio, Thermador is positioned as a premium regional brand alongside Gaggenau, sitting above the mainstream Bosch and Siemens lines in price and positioning.
Where Are Thermador Appliances Made?
Most Thermador appliances are manufactured in the United States at BSH’s own factories, primarily in New Bern, North Carolina and La Follette, Tennessee. These plants produce Thermador ranges, ovens, cooktops, dishwashers, ventilation systems, and most refrigerator models.
Some high end Thermador models, particularly certain column refrigeration and specialty cooking products, are assembled at BSH facilities in Germany and other European locations before being shipped to the US market.
Because Thermador shares engineering platforms and, in some cases, factory floor space with Bosch, buyers often find overlapping components between the two brands even though the finished products carry different names and price points.
When Was Thermador Founded?
Thermador was founded in 1916 by William Crinston Jr, whose first product was an electric heater at a time when fewer than half of American homes had electricity. The company later shifted its focus to kitchen appliances. More on Thermador’s history is available on Wikipedia.
Thermador introduced several kitchen firsts over the following decades, including the first wall oven, the first professional style range for home use, the first self cleaning oven, and the first smooth top cooktop. In 1976 it introduced the first Speedcooking oven, combining thermal heat with microwave energy to cook up to 35 percent faster than conventional ovens.
Thermador appliances also gained pop culture visibility through appearances on shows like The Brady Bunch, helping cement the brand’s reputation in American kitchens well before its acquisition by BSH.
Thermador vs Bosch: Who Makes Each?
Thermador and Bosch are both owned by the same parent company, BSH Hausgerate GmbH, but they occupy very different positions in the market.
Thermador is positioned as a premium, design forward brand sold mainly in North America, with professional style ranges and bold styling aimed at high end kitchen remodels. Bosch is BSH’s mainstream global brand, known for quiet, efficient dishwashers and more understated design at a lower price point.
Both brands are manufactured through the same BSH factory network in the United States and Europe, and some components are shared between them. For more on how Bosch itself is made and owned, see our full breakdown of who makes Bosch appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Thermador
Is Thermador an American or German brand?
Thermador was founded in the United States in 1916 and remains headquartered in Irvine, California. Its parent company, BSH Hausgerate GmbH, is German and is wholly owned by the Bosch Group, which makes Thermador an American brand under German ownership.
Are Thermador appliances made in the USA?
Most Thermador appliances are made in the USA, primarily at BSH’s factories in New Bern, North Carolina and La Follette, Tennessee. A smaller number of high end models are assembled in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Is Thermador the same company as Bosch?
Thermador and Bosch are both owned by BSH Hausgerate GmbH but are sold as separate brands with different design philosophies and price points. Thermador is positioned as a premium North American brand, while Bosch is BSH’s more mainstream global label.
When did BSH acquire Thermador?
BSH acquired Thermador in 1998, when BSH was still a joint venture between Bosch and Siemens. Bosch bought out Siemens’ share of BSH in 2015, making Thermador part of a wholly Bosch owned company from that point forward.
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.