Whirlpool appliances are made by Whirlpool Corporation, an American publicly traded company headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and the world’s largest home appliance manufacturer by revenue for most of the past two decades.
Whirlpool is known for producing washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and other household appliances under its Whirlpool brand and through subsidiary brands including Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Amana, giving it coverage across every price tier of the North American appliance market.
Whirlpool Corporation is a publicly traded American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker WHR, with no single controlling family or corporate shareholder, operating as an independent US corporation since its founding in 1911.
Knowing who makes Whirlpool appliances helps buyers understand the corporate structure behind one of the most comprehensive appliance portfolios in North America and which specific brands sit under the Whirlpool umbrella.
This article covers Whirlpool’s ownership, founding, manufacturing locations, its brand portfolio, and how Whirlpool compares to GE Appliances and LG.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Whirlpool?
Whirlpool Corporation is a publicly traded American company with no single controlling shareholder. The majority of shares are held by institutional investors including major index funds.
Whirlpool has been an independent publicly traded company for most of its history. It has made significant acquisitions over the decades, most notably purchasing Maytag Corporation in 2006 for approximately $1.7 billion, adding Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Amana to its portfolio in a single transaction.
In 2024, Whirlpool sold its European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) appliance business to Arçelik, a Turkish appliance company, for approximately €0.7 billion. This sale reduced Whirlpool’s global footprint but allowed it to focus on the North American market where it has the strongest position.
When Was Whirlpool Founded?
Whirlpool Corporation was founded in 1911 as the Upton Machine Company by Lou Upton and his uncle Emory Upton in St. Joseph, Michigan, initially making electric motor-driven wringer washing machines.
The company partnered with Sears to sell washing machines under the Sears brand in the 1920s, a relationship that drove Upton’s growth significantly. The company merged with the Nineteen Hundred Corporation in 1929 and eventually renamed itself Whirlpool Corporation in 1950 after its best-selling product line.
Whirlpool expanded internationally through the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global appliance manufacturer with operations on every inhabited continent before its 2024 EMEA divestiture refocused the company on North America and select other markets.
Where Are Whirlpool Appliances Made?
Whirlpool maintains significant US manufacturing. The Clyde, Ohio plant is one of the world’s largest washing machine factories, producing top-loading washers for the US market. The Tulsa, Oklahoma plant produces dishwashers. The Cleveland, Tennessee facility makes top-mount refrigerators.
Whirlpool also manufactures appliances in Marion, Ohio, Findlay, Ohio, Ottawa, Ohio, and other US locations. Not all Whirlpool-branded products are US-made. Some cooking appliances and international models are manufactured in Mexico and other countries.
The brand’s commitment to US manufacturing is a consistent marketing message and business strategy, with Whirlpool regularly citing the number of American jobs its factories support. Full product details are at Whirlpool’s official website.
What Brands Does Whirlpool Own?
Whirlpool Corporation operates a tiered brand portfolio covering every price segment of the North American appliance market. The Whirlpool brand itself serves the mainstream mid-range segment. Maytag targets the mid-to-upper tier with a focus on durability. KitchenAid serves the premium segment, particularly for cooking and small appliances. JennAir serves the luxury built-in segment.
Amana serves as the entry-level value brand, positioned below Whirlpool in price and features. Swash covers laundry care products. Gladiator covers garage storage and organization.
This brand portfolio strategy allows Whirlpool to compete at every price point through retailer shelves without the brands appearing to compete directly with each other, since each carries a distinct identity and target customer.
Whirlpool vs GE Appliances vs LG: Who Makes Each?
All three are major appliance brands but from very different corporate structures. Whirlpool is an independent American publicly traded company. GE Appliances is owned by Haier, a Chinese publicly traded company headquartered in Qingdao, China, which acquired GE Appliances from General Electric in 2016 for $5.6 billion. LG Electronics is a South Korean company owned by the Koo family through LG Corporation.
Whirlpool and GE Appliances are the two most entrenched brands in US home appliance retail, with both having US manufacturing and decades of American consumer recognition. LG has been growing its US market share rapidly since opening its Tennessee manufacturing facility in 2019.
Whirlpool’s unique position as a US-headquartered, US-manufacturing independent appliance company distinguishes it from GE Appliances (Chinese-owned) and LG (Korean-owned), a distinction Whirlpool actively markets to American consumers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Whirlpool Appliances
Is Whirlpool an American company?
Yes. Whirlpool Corporation is an American company founded in 1911 in Michigan, headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and publicly traded on the NYSE. It operates as an independent US corporation with no foreign parent company.
Does Whirlpool make appliances in the USA?
Yes. Whirlpool manufactures appliances at multiple US facilities including Clyde, Ohio (washers), Tulsa, Oklahoma (dishwashers), Cleveland, Tennessee (refrigerators), and other locations. A significant portion of the appliances Whirlpool sells in the US are assembled domestically.
What brands does Whirlpool own?
Whirlpool owns Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, Amana, Swash, and Gladiator in the North American market. Each brand serves a different price tier from entry-level (Amana) to luxury built-in (JennAir). Whirlpool previously owned brands in Europe before selling its EMEA business to Arçelik in 2024.
Is Whirlpool related to Maytag?
Yes. Whirlpool acquired Maytag Corporation in 2006 for approximately $1.7 billion. Maytag was previously an independent US appliance maker known for the “Maytag Repairman” advertising campaign emphasizing reliability. Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Amana all came to Whirlpool through that single acquisition.
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.