Motorola is a well-known American company that’s been around for a long time. For the last 10 years, it’s been owned by Lenovo, which is a big tech company from China. This raises a common question about who actually manufactures Motorola smartphones.
Simply put, Motorola manufactures its smartphones using both Lenovo’s facilities and its own. This means most factories where Motorola phones are made belong to Lenovo and operate directly under them. However, Motorola does own some factories as well. These Motorola-owned plants are dedicated solely to producing Motorola smartphones. Additionally, Motorola has a partnership with Dixon Technologies in India. This company handles the production of Motorola phones within the region.
Who owns Motorola?
Motorola is an old American company with a very long history. The “original” Motorola was founded in 1928 and remained independent until 2011. That year, it split into two separate companies: Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. Motorola Mobility is the producer of modern Motorola smartphones.
A year later, Google acquired the company, primarily for Motorola Mobility’s extensive patent portfolio. However, just three years later, Motorola Mobility was sold again to the Chinese technology company Lenovo.
Lenovo needed Motorola to enter the American market. As I mentioned, Motorola is a well-known and longstanding American company. Lenovo hoped to use Motorola’s reputation to successfully break into the American market. As of 2024, Motorola still belongs to Lenovo as a subsidiary.
Who manufactures Motorola phones?
After acquiring Motorola, Lenovo continued producing Motorola smartphones at its own facilities under the Moto and Motorola brands. This means the phones are made in factories owned by Motorola Mobility or Lenovo. Lenovo oversees the process, with most smartphones manufactured in Lenovo’s factories in China.’
Furthermore, Motorola Mobility collaborates with various foreign companies for smartphone production, effectively outsourcing manufacturing capacities. However, these smartphones’ primary design and development occur in the United States. Motorola’s headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois, and Motorola Mobility handles the development under Lenovo’s leadership.
Interestingly, Motorola’s smartphone production was once entirely based in the US, with several large factories across different states. However, Motorola had little room left with the dominance of giants like Apple and Samsung in the American market. Consequently, the production in the US was completely shut down. Motorola smartphones are still sold in the US but are no longer manufactured there; the production has been moved to foreign facilities.
Where are Motorola phones manufactured?
Motorola smartphones are made across several countries, including China, India, Argentina, and Brazil. A significant portion, over 90%, is produced in China, utilizing Lenovo’s facilities. Lenovo shifted most of the production previously based in the USA to China, aligning with broader manufacturing trends in the industry. It’s important to note that these Chinese manufacturing operations often involve importing components from various countries. For instance, in 2021, it came to light that Motorola had struck a deal with Indian manufacturers to produce models like the G60 and G40 Fusion.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, Motorola also engages with third-party companies to produce its smartphones. For example, Motorola partners with Dixon Technologies for manufacturing in India. Lenovo also operates a factory in the city of X in India, contributing to Motorola’s smartphone production.
Motorola enjoys considerable popularity in Latin America. The company maintains its production facility in Brazil, where Motorola commands over 20% of the smartphone market. This facility primarily focuses on manufacturing the Motorola One series. Additionally, a factory in San Vicente, located in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina, specializes in producing the Moto G22 smartphones. This global network of production facilities reflects Motorola’s strategy to cater to different markets effectively.
Are Lenovo and Motorola the same thing?
Lenovo and Motorola operate as distinct companies, but since Lenovo owns and manages Motorola, they functionally form part of the same corporate entity. In essence, Motorola has evolved into a division within Lenovo, primarily focusing on smartphones. This shift became more pronounced as Lenovo stopped producing own-brand smartphones under its own brand, turning its attention to PCs and other computer hardware.
Post-acquisition, Lenovo strategically phased out its own line of smartphones. The focus shifted to nurturing and developing the Moto and Motorola brands, both of which fall under the umbrella of Motorola Mobility. This decision was influenced by Motorola’s established brand presence and expertise in the smartphone market.
When you visit Lenovo’s official website, particularly the smartphone section, Motorola’s products are prominently displayed. This indicates Lenovo’s reliance on Motorola to spearhead its presence in the smartphone sector.
So, while Motorola retains its identity as an independent American company and a subsidiary of Lenovo, it essentially serves as Lenovo’s smartphone arm. Motorola now shoulders the responsibility of smartphone innovation and production for the entire Lenovo group, effectively making them integral to each other in the realm of mobile technology.
