- STIHL remains privately owned by four members of the Stihl family through STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG; it is not publicly traded and is not owned by a retailer or another tool group.
- The family sets long-term direction through the holding, advisory and supervisory structures, while a non-family Board of Management has run day-to-day operations since 2002.
- STIHL manufactures tools and components in eight countries, and its battery strategy now combines AS, AK and AP systems with the professional ALLPRO alliance led by the AP-compatible platform.
STIHL is owned by the Stihl family. The shares of STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG are divided among four family shareholders: Hans Peter Stihl, Gerhild Schetter, Dr. Rüdiger Stihl and Eva Mayr-Stihl. The group is privately held and is not listed on a stock exchange.
Family ownership does not mean a family member runs every operating department. Since 2002, STIHL has used a non-family Board of Management for day-to-day business. Family representatives remain involved through the holding company's Advisory Board and the Supervisory Board of STIHL AG, where they influence long-term strategy and oversight.
STIHL Ownership at a Glance
| Entity or relationship | Verified role | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG | Family-owned holding company | Group ownership is separate from the legal seller or factory for a product |
| Four Stihl family shareholders | Owners of the holding-company shares | Family ownership does not mean one individual owns the entire business |
| ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG and group companies | Founding and operating entities within the STIHL Group | Contracts, trademarks, sales and manufacturing can sit in different entities |
| Non-family Board of Management | Runs daily operations and executes group strategy | Professional management does not make STIHL publicly owned |
| STIHL Advisory and Supervisory Boards | Strategic oversight with family representation | Oversight is different from operational product responsibility |
| Authorized STIHL dealers and importers | Sales, setup, service and warranty channels by market | Dealers do not own STIHL |
| Kärcher ALLPRO alliance | Shared professional battery ecosystem built on STIHL-developed technology | Battery cooperation is not corporate ownership or a merger |
*The Stihl family owns the holding company; boards, executives, operating companies and dealers perform different functions.*
Is STIHL Still Family-Owned?
Yes. STIHL has remained family-owned since Andreas Stihl founded the business in 1926.
The company's current governance page names the four shareholders and states that the shares of STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG are divided among them. This is more precise than saying only “the Stihl family owns it,” because the holding company is the ownership layer above the operating businesses.
STIHL is not owned by Bosch, Husqvarna, Kärcher, Greenworks, a private-equity fund or the company's dealer network. Those names can appear near STIHL because of competition, supply, investment or technology relationships, but none replaces the verified family owner.
Who Runs STIHL Today?
STIHL separates ownership from executive management.
The group says a non-family Board of Management has run the company since 2002. Michael Traub chairs the current management board of STIHL AG. The family remains represented in governance: Dr. Nikolas Stihl chairs the Advisory Board of STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG and the Supervisory Board of STIHL AG, with other family members serving on committees.
This structure allows the family to preserve ownership and long-term direction while professional executives manage manufacturing, research, sales, finance and other operating functions.
For buyers, the practical point is that a shareholder name is not the warranty entity. Product documents should identify the relevant regional company, importer and authorized dealer.
Is STIHL a Public Company?
No. STIHL is not listed on a stock exchange.
The company reports financial and sustainability information voluntarily, but publishing a corporate report does not make its shares publicly traded. STIHL's current figures page emphasizes that the group is independent of banks and capital markets, supported by an equity ratio above 70%.
This distinguishes STIHL from listed peers such as Makita, Snap-on and Einhell. It also distinguishes family ownership from a public brand license: STIHL's family controls the group, not merely the right to use a trademark.
Who Founded STIHL?
Andreas Stihl founded an engineering office in Stuttgart in 1926. His early work focused on making forestry work easier through mechanized saws.
The company expanded internationally early, built production outside Germany from 1973 and developed a global dealer network. It evolved from a chainsaw specialist into a broader outdoor power-equipment group spanning gasoline and battery products, digital tools, professional fleet support and robotic mowing.
The founder's descendants remain the owners, but the current group includes multiple companies and an international production system.
Who Manufactures STIHL Tools?
STIHL manufactures many essential components and finished products within its own production network. It also works with suppliers and partners where appropriate.
The company's current figures state that STIHL manufactures in eight countries. The network covers Germany, the United States, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, China, the Philippines and Romania. The new Oradea plant in Romania is the group's first site dedicated exclusively to battery products.
STIHL emphasizes vertical integration. It develops and produces important components such as engines, guide bars, saw chains, cylinders, magnesium parts, housings and selected batteries across specialized sites. Some components move between plants before final assembly.
This means “made by STIHL” describes a coordinated network, not one German factory.
Where Are STIHL Tools Made?
STIHL tools and components are made on four continents. Different sites specialize in different products and components:
- Germany: headquarters, development, gasoline professional tools, magnesium components, battery packs and electric-drive production;
- United States: a large Virginia Beach plant producing many model variants, bars, plastics and battery products;
- Brazil: power tools and a major share of the group's cylinder production;
- Switzerland: saw chains and related components;
- Austria: ground-guided garden equipment, battery products and robotic mowers through STIHL Tirol;
- China: chainsaws, clearing saws, hedge trimmers and other products;
- Philippines: ZAMA carburetor operations and components; and
- Romania: battery-powered blowers and AP battery packs at the new battery-focused site.
The exact product origin still belongs to the SKU. A guide bar may come from one plant, a saw chain from another and final assembly from a third. Check the product label and declaration rather than assigning the entire brand to Germany, the United States or China.
*STIHL's production sites and battery systems are connected, but the exact model and platform remain decisive.*
What Is STIHL's Battery Strategy?
STIHL is pursuing a long-term transition while continuing to serve markets where gasoline equipment remains important.
The company reports 2025 revenue of €5.48 billion and says battery-operated tools reached 28% of sales, up from 25% in the previous year. Battery adoption varies widely by market, so STIHL invests in cordless products without treating every region or application as identical.
STIHL develops battery electronics, tool interfaces and system controls and produces selected packs in-house. It has battery manufacturing in Germany and has expanded battery-product production in Austria, the United States, China and Romania.
The strategy covers professional handheld equipment, consumer garden tools, charging infrastructure, fleet management and robotics—not one universal battery for every product.
STIHL AS, AK and AP Battery Systems
STIHL uses several cordless families for different user and performance levels:
- AS System: compact tools for smaller jobs and specialist applications;
- AK System: consumer and demanding-garden tools; and
- AP System: professional equipment, high-output applications and fleet use, including AR backpack batteries.
These names are not decorative tiers. They define compatibility, chargers, power delivery and product scope. An AS battery is not automatically compatible with an AK or AP tool.
Compatibility should be verified by current product documentation. Some high-demand AP tools also have battery recommendations or performance limits that make nominal physical fit only part of the answer.
What Is ALLPRO and How Does Kärcher Fit In?
ALLPRO is a professional battery alliance announced by STIHL and Kärcher in July 2026. The technological foundation is a battery system developed by STIHL.
The alliance does not mean Kärcher owns STIHL, STIHL owns Kärcher or the two companies have merged. It is a shared platform arrangement intended to let professional users operate equipment from both brands with compatible batteries and chargers.
STIHL says existing AP batteries can be used with the new Kärcher ALLPRO equipment. New ALLPRO batteries became available through STIHL specialist retailers on August 1, 2026. Kärcher plans to introduce its new batteries and compatible tools on January 1, 2027.
The dates matter. At this article's publication, the battery launch has begun through STIHL's channel, while the Kärcher equipment launch is still scheduled for 2027. Kärcher's existing Battery Universe retains its own service and parts commitments.
Does STIHL Own Greenworks?
No. STIHL does not control Greenworks.
STIHL's wholly owned ZAMA subsidiary holds a significant minority interest in the listed Greenworks company, and Greenworks also identifies STIHL as an ODM customer. Investment and contract manufacturing are separate relationships.
Neither relationship makes Greenworks a STIHL subsidiary. It also does not prove that Greenworks manufactures every STIHL battery product or that STIHL manufactures every Greenworks product.
STIHL in Cleaning and Robotic Equipment
STIHL's cleaning adjacency begins with outdoor work. Its range includes blowers, vacuum shredders, wet-and-dry vacuums, pressure washers in selected markets and power sweepers.
Robotic mowers extend the company into autonomous yard maintenance, while STIHL connected services add equipment and fleet management. The ALLPRO alliance broadens the professional ecosystem toward Kärcher cleaning machines.
For facility-service, landscaping and municipal buyers, the useful question is not whether one battery replaces every machine. It is which tasks can be covered by the AP/ALLPRO ecosystem, which equipment still uses another system, and who provides local service.
How Does the STIHL Warranty Work?
STIHL warranties are market- and product-specific.
In the United States, the battery-product policy effective January 1, 2026 gives listed AS, AK and AP battery systems, products and chargers different coverage by user type and product. The reviewed table shows five years for consumer use and three years for professional use on the main battery systems, subject to its definitions and exclusions. Accessories and attachments have separate terms.
That U.S. policy is not a global promise. Dealer authorization, original purchaser, use type, model category and market affect coverage. Products bought across borders may also create parts, charger and warranty problems.
Use the current local policy and authorized dealer rather than a warranty statement copied from another country or year.
What Buyers and Distributors Should Verify
Before relying on a STIHL ownership or manufacturing claim, record:
- Owner: Four Stihl family shareholders through STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG.
- Operating entity: Founding company, regional sales company or importer.
- Product identity: Model, suffix, serial number and date code.
- Origin: Product label, declaration and producing entity.
- Battery family: AS, AK, AP/AR or ALLPRO-compatible product.
- Launch timing: Especially for ALLPRO and Kärcher equipment.
- Dealer: Authorized seller, setup capability and service scope.
- Warranty: Country, consumer/professional use and exclusions.
- Cleaning workflow: Tool, extractor, sweeper, pressure washer or partner equipment.
- Cross-border support: Charger, conformity, parts and software region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns STIHL today?
Four Stihl family members own the shares of STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG: Hans Peter Stihl, Gerhild Schetter, Dr. Rüdiger Stihl and Eva Mayr-Stihl.
Is STIHL publicly traded?
No. STIHL is a privately held family company and is not listed on a stock exchange.
Is STIHL owned by Bosch or Husqvarna?
No. STIHL, Bosch and Husqvarna are separate companies.
Does Kärcher own STIHL?
No. STIHL and Kärcher are independent companies cooperating on the ALLPRO professional battery system.
Are STIHL products made in Germany?
Some are, but STIHL manufactures products and components in eight countries. Check the exact model's label.
Is STIHL AP compatible with ALLPRO?
STIHL says existing AP batteries can be used with new Kärcher ALLPRO devices. Verify the exact device and launch-market documentation.
Are STIHL AS, AK and AP batteries interchangeable?
No universal interchangeability should be assumed. They are separate systems for different product ranges.
Does STIHL make robotic mowers?
Yes. STIHL sells iMOW robotic mowers and produces garden and robotic-mower products through its international network.
Final Answer
STIHL remains owned by the Stihl family through STIHL Holding AG & Co. KG. Four named family shareholders hold the ownership layer, family representatives provide strategic oversight and a non-family Board of Management runs daily operations.
The company manufactures tools and components across eight countries, with high vertical integration but model-specific origins. Its battery strategy spans AS, AK and professional AP systems, while ALLPRO extends AP-compatible technology toward Kärcher's professional cleaning equipment. Ownership, manufacturing, battery compatibility, dealer service and warranty must still be verified separately.
Official Sources
- STIHL: Corporate governance and family shareholders
- STIHL: 2025 figures and battery share
- STIHL: International production and distribution
- STIHL: Production network and site specializations
- STIHL: Battery technology and in-house development
- STIHL: Kärcher and ALLPRO battery alliance
- STIHL USA: Battery warranty effective January 1, 2026
