Where Are Lenovo Laptops Made (10 Facts you Don’t Know)?

Lenovo manufactures a promising range of workstations, desktop computers, smartphones, tablets, storage devices, and smart home devices. But have you ever wondered where all these tech wonders come to life?

This brief compilation of Lenovo facts and insights has all the answers. Who founded Lenovo, where are the laptops made, are they secure, and everything in between. So let’s get into the details!

Who Founded Lenovo?

Liu Chuanzhi, also named as ‘China’s high-tech hero’ by Financial Times,  is the founder of Lenovo. Liu, along with a team of engineers started off a company in 1984 under the name ‘Legend Holdings’ from a dusty guard house in China.

Later in 2004, Legend Holdings became Lenovo, which has now become a global Fortune 500 company and enjoys the status of being the largest PC vendor and third largest smartphone company in the world.  

Where Are Lenovo Laptops Made?

Lenovo is based in China, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong. However, this tech giant company has operational centers around the world, with the largest ones situated in Beijing, in its home country, and the other in Morrisville, USA.

While the majority of the manufacturing happens in the facilities situated in China, Lenovo has production plants in Japan, India, Germany, USA, and Mexico as well. 

Apart from manufacturing facilities, Lenovo operates 46 state-of-the-art laboratories and research centers in Yokohama in Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen in China, and Morrisville in the US. Collectively, Lenovo boasts a team of 54000 employees in more than 60 countries serving customers in 160+ countries.

Simply put, what once started in a small guard house with $25000 has made its mark worldwide and is now a $39 billion company.   

Who Owns Lenovo Now?

Lenovo is a Chinese multinational tech company owned by Lenovo Group Limited. However, the Chinese investment company Legend Holdings, headed by Liu Chuanzhi (Lenovo’s founder), holds more than 30% of Lenovo’s shares.

Lenovo itself, on the other hand, acquired IBM between 2004 and 2005 in a $1.25 billion deal, transforming Lenovo from a local Chinese company to a global corporation.

As IBM holds the status of being the pioneer of the PC industry, IBM selling their business to Lenovo made one of the biggest deals in the tech industry. Currently, the company is headed by Yang Yuanging, who’s also been named among the world’s best CEO’s by Barron. 

Are Lenovo Laptops Good?

Lenovo laptops are particularly prized for their reliability and ruggedness and these two, we believe, are the most important factors when considering the worthiness of a laptop.

Now the question is: Are Lenovo laptops good? Well, they sure as hell are excellent, given you manage to snag the right model for your requirements. 

Lenovo laptops are available in entry level, mid-range, and high-end varieties. But what’s common across all their laptops is the exceptional build quality and robust performance abilities.

The Thinkpad line, in particular, offers rock solid performers suitable for general business, home, and student use. These laptops are usually the top choice of IT experts in large corporations and businesses around the world due to their proven ability to withstand intensive use, abuse, and accidents. 

That said, we’re not going to be biased here so we feel it’s important to mention that Lenovo does manufacture some subpar devices as well. As much as we love the reliability of their business grade models, some of the devices in the entry level lines are notorious for lack of durability and underwhelming performance.

But then, none of the traditionally famed brands are exempt from bad batches either so it’s not that big a deal in our opinion, at least.  

The key takeaway here is that Lenovo laptops are good, reliable devices for personal and professional use both.

Lenovo Processes and Standards

Now let’s take a closer look at the company’s standards and regulatory policies in terms of quality, security, and customer support.

Check the Complete Video on How Lenovo Eclipsed HP

There are the Processes and Standards Lenovo is known for:

1- ISO 9001 Quality Management

Lenovo’s Quality Management System is certified to the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) 9001 standard. Lenovo laptops are safe throughout their lifetime, starting from manufacturing up until the use, service, and recycling stage.

The company strives to maintain the highest standards of quality by using various feedback mechanisms to resolve issues quickly and provide feedbacks to the manufacturing, development, and testing units to avoid similar future problems. 

2- ISO 27001 Security Standards

ISO 27001 is an international standard based on the requirements for an Information Security Managament System. Lenovo holds an ISO 27001 certificate that confirms the company is following international information security best practices.

So with Lenovo laptops, your sensitive information is secure and you don’t have to worry about data protection and privacy.

However, they do maintain transparency by mentioning that “no manufacturer can guarantee that its products are 100% free from vulnerabilities”.

At the same time, Lenovo also assures that the company continually works to protect its customers against constantly evolving security threats.

3- Regulatory Compliance

Lenovo adheres to several ISO standards, including: 

• ISO 9001 (Effective Quality Practices)
• ISO 14001 (Effective Management Practices for Environmental Aspects)
• ISO 27001 (Security Best Practices)
• ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management)
• ISO 50001 (Energy Management)
• Customer Support & Service

Lenovo offers decent warranty programs to its customers to ensure satisfaction and reliable support in case of any issues. Additionally, they also use customer focused testing to make timely corrections and preempt potential issues.

4- Environmental Standards

Lenovo also holds an impressive set of environmental certifications, including CEL, ECO Declarations, ENERGY STAR, EPEAT, Recycling, and TCO, aiming to maintain environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing practices.

All certificates and safety declarations are readily available here to ensure transparency and develop a trusted relationship with the customers, which truly is an impressive move by the company.  

Comparison to Other Brand’s Manufacturing Location

Now that we know where Lenovo laptops are manufactured, let’s see where most of the renowned companies make their laptops.

• Dell: China, Taiwan, Brazil
• HP: United States, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Philippines 
• Acer: China, Taiwan
• MSI: China
• ASUS: USA, China, Taiwan
• Apple: China, Vietnam 

10 Interesting Facts About Lenovo

1- Lenovo Holds 20% Of Global PC Sales

Lenovo is no ordinary tech brand, it is the largest PC vendor in the world. And to be fair, it’s no wonder that the company single handedly holds 20% of global PC sales. But do you know what that means for the company?

Well, Lenovo generates nearly 80 percent of its revenue from PC sales only, reflecting the company’s significant presence and success in the PC industry. 

2- Lenovo Operates in 160+ Countries

Lenovo has a massive clientele, with customers in more than 160 countries around the world. This extensive market is a result of the smart global partnerships made by Lenovo around the world as well as the aim of making reliable tech products accessible to everyone.

3- Lenovo Has A Diverse Product Portfolio

Starting from laptops and extending their device range to smartphones and beyond, Lenovo boasts an impressive product portfolio.

The company offers smartphones, tablets, smart home devices and super captivating speakers apart from the robust lineup of desktop computers and workstations that cater to businesses and casual users alike. 

4- Lenovo Acquired IBM

In 2005, Lenovo made a historical move by acquiring the PC division of IBM in a $1.25 billion deal. This step served as a kickstart to Lenovo’s unstoppable journey of success, making it one of the leading global corporations in the world. The acquisition of IBM also helped the company establish its presence beyond the Chinese market and develop credibility in the international tech industry.

5- The Truth Behind The Name Lenovo

Who would’ve thought the name Lenovo was inspired by the name of the parent company, Legend Holdings? The word Lenovo is a combination of ‘Le’ from Legend and ‘Novo’, which means ‘New’ in Latin. 

This brilliant fusion of names reflects smart rebranding, conveying the meaning that “we’re creating a new legend in technology” or perhaps it blends the heritage of a legendary company with an innovative and forward-looking approach. 

6- The Company Started With a k Loan

A 39 billion dollar company today started off with a $25000 loan. Sounds pretty crazy and inspirational at the same time, right? But that’s the truth of Lenovo. Liu Chuanzhi took a $25000 loan from the Chinese government while he was still a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Science.

It is important to mention that the loan didn’t buy the government a right to interfere in the company and Lenovo operates as a private firm, contrary to the popular opinion of it being a Chinese spy company.  

7- Many Seniors Executives Are Foreign

Despite being a Chinese company, Lenovo is unChinese in several ways. To begin with, English is used as the official language in the company, which is extremely uncommon in China otherwise.

Many senior executives in Lenovo are foreigners who fit in just as well as any Chinese official would. So it looks like Lenovo took a forward approach not only in terms of technology but also in fostering a diverse and inclusive team.

8- Lenovo Acquired Motorola in 2014

Another important step that helped Lenovo strengthen its position in the smartphone industry was the acquisition of Motorola from Google in 2014. This deal allowed Lenovo to benefit from Motorola’s brand and expertise in smartphone technology.

9- Lenovo Laptops Have Been Used in The US State Department

It sounds unreal but yes, Lenovo, a Chinese company, has sold laptops to the US State Department, including branches that deal with classified materials.

Some security concerns, such as the laptops being modified in a way that provides confidential information to the Chinese government, were conveyed by the US officials. Nonetheless, Lenovo laptops have been used in the US State Department.

10- Lenovo Entered The Wireless Market in 2010

Despite being in the tech industry for years, Lenovo stepped into the wireless market realm only in 2010. The company manufactured affordable and versatile smartphones to meet the needs of a wider audience. 

FAQS

Is Lenovo Made in China?

Yes, most of the manufacturing of Lenovo is done in China. The two biggest operational centers of Lenovo are situated in China and the US. Other than China, Lenovo has manufacturing facilities in India, Japan, and Germany as well. 

Are Lenovo Laptops Good?

Yes, Lenovo laptops are great for all kinds of users. They’ve a dedicated lineup of gaming laptops apart from business grade models like the Thinkpads, serving casual users, professionals, and gaming enthusiasts equally well. 

Is it Safe To Use a Lenovo Laptop?

While there have been rumors in the US declaring Lenovo as a Chinese spy company, there are no proofs regarding that. Moreover, many big enterprises are using Lenovo laptops, suggesting that safety is not an issue when using a Lenovo laptop. That said, everybody’s free to have their own opinion and dig deeper if they want to find some dirt on Lenovo’s security standards. 

Conclusion

As is evident from the gathered facts and figures, Lenovo, like most other brands, manufactures its laptops in China mainly. The company has a few other manufacturing facilities in countries, such as India, USA, and Germany. However, the major production and manufacturing takes place in China.