Garmin is undeniably one of the most recognized names in consumer technology, dominating the markets for fitness trackers, watches, and GPS navigation (and even smartwatches with GPS). From die-hard marathon runners to weekend hikers, the brand has built an extremely loyal user base. But unlike some tech brands that operate under the umbrella of massive conglomerates or are strictly privately held, Garmin’s ownership structure is a real mixed bag.
Since Garmin is a publicly traded company (listed on the NYSE as GRMN), it does not have a single corporate overlord. Instead, it is owned by a mix of institutional investors, mutual funds and individual shareholders. Notably, large investors like Vanguard own just under 10%, while BlackRock owns around 8%. The company was founded together in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao (whose partial first names combined come together to create the nickname “Gar-Min”). Although Burrell passed away in 2019, Kao remains a central figure in the organization, currently serving as executive chairman of the board of directors.
On paper, Garmin is technically a Swiss company, since its legal headquarters is in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. But don’t let the company’s paperwork fool you. The real magic—from the executives who take the orders to the teams who design the watches and help customers—happens in the United States, at the company’s massive headquarters in Olathe, Kansas.
Where exactly does Garmin make all of its watches?
It’s easy to assume that since Garmin’s operational headquarters is located in Kansas, its popular wearables are also manufactured there. However, the Olathe plant only handles manufacturing of certain Garmin aviation systems and automotive products. Garmin smartwatches are actually produced overseas in Taiwan. The company operates large automated manufacturing plants in cities like Taoyuan, which serves as a main hub for assembling its wearable technologies.
But here’s what makes Garmin’s setup so unusual today: The company actually builds its own equipment. Many big tech brands simply design a product in the United States, then pay a huge foreign factory to put it all together. Garmin doesn’t do that. The company owns and operates its own factories in Taiwan and manages the entire process from start to finish. Since Garmin doesn’t pass the buck to a middleman, it can keep a close eye on everything from parts selection to final stress testing. This may be part of why Garmin watches beat the Apple Watch for fitness users.
This hands-on approach is one of the main reasons why high-end watches like the Enduro or Venu can actually survive in whatever wilderness you drag them into. So while there are many smartwatch myths that you should stop believing, know this as fact: Garmin is legally based in Switzerland, has its headquarters in Kansas, and manufactures its products in Taiwan.
