General Transmissions

About General Transmissions

General Transmissions (GT) is a privately held, family-owned company specializing in the design and manufacturing of drivetrain solutions for the outdoor power equipment industry. The company was founded in 1991 by Robert and Anne-Marie Blanchard and is currently managed by their daughter, Nathalie Barendrecht, and her husband, Wouter Barendrecht, who serves as president. The firm primarily serves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and snow blowers. Over its history, GT has established a significant global footprint, holding a 40% share of the total market for these transmissions as of late 2015.

GT's business model is centered on producing and supplying a comprehensive range of transmission systems, including both gas-powered and electric solutions. The company's product portfolio features single-speed and variable-speed drives, continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and integrated systems that combine the transmission, motor, and controller into a single unit. This vertical integration was significantly enhanced by the strategic acquisition of Actuator Electric Motor Company (AEM), a Chinese manufacturer of electric motors and controllers, in August 2019. This move positioned GT to capitalize on the market's shift toward battery-powered equipment. In fact, the company pioneered the first transmission specifically for battery-powered walk-behind mowers.

Revenue is generated through the direct sale of these components and systems to OEMs. The company has a global manufacturing and distribution network to support its clients, with its headquarters and a primary R&D center in Les Herbiers, France. Additional manufacturing plants are located in Matamoros, Mexico, to serve the North American market, and in Suzhou and Yuyao, China, to supply the Asian market and produce motors and controllers. To support its North American customers and a network of certified dealers, the company established a parts, service, and sales center in Houston, Texas.