Motorola Inc. is an American telecommunications company founded in 1928. In 2011, Motorola Inc. split into two independent companies: Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 but sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo in 2014. Therefore, Motorola Solutions remains the successor to Motorola Inc. Motorola Mobility is a subsidiary of Chinese technology company Lenovo.
History of Motorola Company
Motorola was founded in 1928 as Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in Chicago, USA. The company began by manufacturing car radio receivers and other wireless equipment for police departments. Gradually, the product range also included T.V.s. Galvin Manufacturing Corporation became Motorola Inc. in 1947.
Motorola launched the world’s first portable mobile phone in 1973. 1974, it produced the first microprocessors for automobiles, computers, and video games. In 1983, Motorola manufactured the world’s first commercial cellular device. In 1998, Motorola lost its position as the world’s largest mobile phone seller.
On January 4, 2011, Motorola Inc. was officially separated into Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions. Motorola Inc.’s cellular and cable equipment divisions were sold to Motorola Mobility, and Motorola Solutions retained Motorola Inc.’s original communications and enterprise equipment divisions.
Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for $12.5 billion. In 2014, Chinese multinational technology company Lenovo acquired Motorola Mobility from Google for $2.91 billion.
So, is Motorola a Chinese Company or an American company in 2024?
Technically, Motorola Mobility is a subsidiary of Lenovo. Lenovo is a Chinese company, so Motorola Mobility can be considered a Chinese company based on the nationality of its parent company.
However, Motorola Mobility maintains its U.S. headquarters and brand identity. The company operates independently of Lenovo, with its leadership, people, and product development teams. Additionally, the Motorola brand maintains a strong connection to American heritage.
Also, read Who Makes Motorola Phones?
Conclusion
The answer to whether Motorola is a Chinese company is not entirely straightforward. Meanwhile, its parent company is Lenovo, a Chinese multinational corporation. On the other hand, Motorola Mobility maintains its U.S. headquarters and brand identity.
Ultimately, how you classify it will depend on your definition of a “Chinese company” and how you emphasize ownership versus operational independence and brand heritage.