About
Makita started in 1915 as a small electric-motor sales and repair shop in Nagoya — a humble beginning for a company whose trademark teal-and-blue power tools now sit in workshops on every continent. It made its first electric planer in 1958 and never looked back, building one of the world's largest power tool businesses with about 19,000 employees. The company's modern claim to fame is the cordless platform war: its LXT 18V line, launched in 2005, grew into one of the industry's largest battery ecosystems, and the newer 40V XGT platform targets heavy-duty demolition and construction work that corded tools once owned. Makita also makes outdoor power equipment, chainsaws, and a wide range of woodworking machines. Headquartered in Anjo, Aichi, with factories in Japan, the US, the UK, Germany, Brazil, China, and Thailand, Makita generates annual revenue near ¥700 billion. Its distribution model is unusual for the industry — it sells through independent dealers rather than big-box retailers — which keeps prices stable and spare parts flowing for decades after a tool's launch.
Also known as: Makita
