About us – Garmin Products

Garmin is founded on the principles of innovation, convenience, performance, value, and service. Our co-founders Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao, display our innovative products in the lobby of our Olathe, Kansas, world headquarters.

What began as a brainstorming session of a handful of engineers around a card table in 1989 has evolved into a worldwide collaborative effort of thousands of colleagues. Garmin’s goal, as it was then, remains simple: To create navigation and communication devices that can enrich our customers’ lives. Our innovative products span various areas of interest, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.

A member of Garmin Ltd. (asdaq: GRMN), Garmin International exemplifies growth for everyone involved – consumers, employees, investors and retail partners. The secret to our success isn’t even that much of a secret. From the time that the founders focused on selling their first product using GPS (Global Positioning System), Garmin has hired and surrounded itself with creative minds and passionate spirits.

The power of “Vertical Integration”

Garmin is thriving because we take pride in the cooperative environment that stems from vertical integration — we design, manufacture, market and sell our products ourselves. During any given conversation about a product, you’re likely to find engineers, designers, product testers, artists, writers and salespeople sharing their thoughts.

Investing in innovation has been central to Garmin’s success. The original handful of employees in 1989 grew to a work force of 1,000 just 10 years later. That number doubled within four years and eclipsed 4,000 by 2006. In 2007, Garmin’s worldwide work force topped 7,000 and showed little sign of slowing amid expansion in Europe and Asia.

In touch with the world

We design our products with the customer in mind. Sidestepping the stress of navigation or travel begins with easy-to-use menus, logical options and intuitive features.

Automotive products help drivers reach their destination effortlessly while getting the most out of the journey
Marine units supplement detailed charts with essential data
Aviation technology provides everything pilots need at a glance
Fitness devices make every step of the workout more efficient.
Outdoor recreation options are available for hikers, campers and geocachers
Wireless applications bring the power of GPS to your smart phone

Whether in their rental car or at a retail store, first-time Garmin users quickly realize the wealth of information that can be packed into a compact, portable unit.

The Garmin mindset

We don’t just design and sell products, we embrace the lifestyles. From aviation to marine, automotive to fitness, wireless solutions to outdoor recreation, Garmin employees are in the air, on the water, in the woods, behind the wheel and on the run. And we’re always thinking of ways to adapt and improve. At Garmin, you never know how the next great idea will be born. But you know it’s coming soon.