Garrett Motion
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA global automotive technology company specializing in turbocharging, electric boosting, and related vehicle efficiency systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Garrett Motion is an automotive technology company whose principal business is the engineering, development, and manufacture of turbochargers and related forced-induction systems. Its products serve passenger cars, commercial vehicles, construction and mining machinery, industrial equipment, rail applications, and motorsports. The company is particularly associated with the Garrett turbocharger brand, which has been used by vehicle and engine manufacturers across gasoline and diesel powertrains. The business originated in the industrial activities of Garrett AiResearch. In 1954, the turbocharger group was separated from the gas-turbine operation to form the AiResearch Industrial Division in Phoenix, Arizona. Its early development was closely connected with diesel and heavy-equipment applications. A major early contract supplied Caterpillar with thousands of turbochargers for D9 mining and construction tractors. The division subsequently expanded into turbochargers for locomotives, trucks, ships, power plants, tractors, and pipeline equipment. Garrett entered automotive turbocharging during the 1960s. Its technology was used in early turbocharged passenger cars, including the Chevrolet Corvair Monza and Oldsmobile Jetfire, while the company also supplied commercial-vehicle manufacturers. Emissions regulation and the fuel crises of the 1970s accelerated demand for more efficient engines. By the 1980s and 1990s, turbocharging had spread from specialist and performance vehicles into mainstream passenger cars, and Garrett became one of the major suppliers to global automakers. The business passed through several corporate structures. Garrett Corporation combined with Signal Oil and Gas in 1964, and the resulting organization later became part of AlliedSignal. Honeywell acquired AlliedSignal in 1999, and the turbocharger operation became known as Honeywell Transportation Systems and later Honeywell Turbo Technologies. In 2018, Honeywell separated the automotive business through a pro rata distribution of Garrett shares to Honeywell shareholders. Garrett Motion began trading as an independent public company on October 1, 2018, with its corporate headquarters in Rolle, Switzerland. Garrett’s portfolio includes wastegate turbochargers, variable-geometry turbochargers, dual-stage systems, dual-compressor systems, electric boosting technologies, and automotive software and control solutions. Its variable-nozzle technology is designed to regulate airflow across the engine speed range, supporting torque delivery, fuel economy, and emissions compliance. The company also develops electrified boosting systems for hybrid and battery-oriented vehicle architectures, reflecting the industry’s movement toward downsized, electrified, and software-controlled propulsion. Garrett has maintained a significant presence in motorsports, supplying turbocharging and forced-induction equipment for circuit racing, rallying, drag racing, sports-car competition, and open-wheel categories. Motorsport functions as both a commercial activity and a technology-development platform for high-performance airflow, thermal management, durability, and control systems. The company experienced a major restructuring after announcing in September 2020 that it intended to seek Chapter 11 protection and pursue an acquisition by KPS Capital Partners. Garrett emerged from Chapter 11 in April 2021 after implementation of a court-confirmed restructuring plan and reported raising approximately $1.3 billion in equity during the restructuring. Garrett remains an independent automotive technology company focused on boosting, electrification, software, and efficiency solutions for a changing vehicle market.
History
Garrett Motion’s roots lie in the engineering enterprises established by John Clifford Garrett. Garrett founded the Aircraft Tool and Supply Company in Los Angeles in 1936; the organization adopted the Garrett Corporation name in 1938 and developed aircraft turbochargers, avionics, and environmental-control equipment. Wartime aerospace work helped establish the engineering base from which the later transportation businesses developed. During the early 1950s, turbocharging began to attract interest for municipal, industrial, and diesel applications. On September 27, 1954, Garrett separated its turbocharger group from its gas-turbine group and created the AiResearch Industrial Division in Phoenix, Arizona. The division’s first major production milestone came with the T-15 turbocharger, delivered to Caterpillar in 1955. Caterpillar subsequently ordered approximately 5,000 units for D9 equipment. Garrett then broadened its industrial range to locomotives, commercial trucks, tractors, ships, power plants, and oil-pipeline pumping stations. The T11 turbocharger, developed in 1960, helped extend the business into heavy commercial vehicles. Garrett technology appeared in early turbocharged passenger cars during the following decade, including the Chevrolet Corvair Monza and Oldsmobile Jetfire. Racing and sports-car applications reinforced the brand’s performance image, while the oil crises and tightening emissions requirements of the 1970s created a stronger mainstream rationale for turbocharging. Garrett supplied many of the turbocharged models introduced in North America and Europe during the late 1970s, and the number of turbocharged vehicle models expanded substantially during the 1980s and 1990s. The corporate parent changed several times. After Cliff Garrett’s death in 1963, Garrett Corporation merged with Signal Oil and Gas in 1964 in response to a takeover threat. The combined organization became The Signal Companies in 1968 and later merged with Allied Corporation to form Allied-Signal. Allied-Signal acquired Honeywell International in 1999 and adopted the Honeywell name. The automotive turbocharger operations were subsequently known as Honeywell Transportation Systems and Honeywell Turbo Technologies. Under Honeywell, the Garrett business continued developing turbochargers for increasingly diverse engines and vehicle segments. Products were installed in vehicles associated with Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Jaguar, and other manufacturers. The company worked on compact turbochargers for small engines, large systems for mining equipment, ball-bearing technologies, variable-geometry designs, and multi-stage arrangements. Its engineering agenda increasingly combined performance with fuel economy and emissions reduction. Honeywell separated the transportation systems business in 2018. On October 1 of that year, Garrett Motion became an independent publicly traded company through a pro rata distribution of Garrett shares to Honeywell shareholders. The new company retained the Garrett brand and headquartered the corporation in Rolle, Switzerland. Garrett later faced financial pressure and announced an intended Chapter 11 filing in September 2020 alongside a proposed transaction involving KPS Capital Partners. The restructuring was completed in April 2021 after confirmation by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Garrett reported raising approximately $1.3 billion in equity during the process. Following restructuring, the company continued to position itself as a powertrain technology supplier, expanding beyond conventional turbochargers into electric boosting, hybrid-compatible systems, and automotive software while retaining its established motorsport and aftermarket presence.
- 2021
Restructuring completed
[1]Garrett emerged from Chapter 11 in April after implementing a court-confirmed restructuring plan.
- 2020
Chapter 11 restructuring announced
[1]Garrett announced its intention to seek Chapter 11 protection and pursue a transaction involving KPS Capital Partners.
- 2018
Garrett Motion spins off from Honeywell
[1]Garrett Motion became an independent publicly traded company on October 1 through a distribution of shares to Honeywell shareholders.
- 1999
Honeywell becomes the corporate parent
[1]Honeywell acquired AlliedSignal and adopted the Honeywell name, bringing the Garrett automotive turbocharger business into Honeywell’s portfolio.
- 1964
Merger with Signal Oil and Gas
[1]Garrett Corporation merged with Signal Oil and Gas, beginning a sequence of ownership changes that eventually led to AlliedSignal and Honeywell.
- 1960
T11 turbocharger expands commercial-vehicle use
[1]The T11 helped extend Garrett turbocharging into heavy trucks and other commercial-vehicle applications.
- 1955
Caterpillar turbocharger production begins
[1]The T-15 turbocharger was delivered to Caterpillar, followed by a large production order for D9 equipment.
- 1954
AiResearch Industrial Division formed
[1]Garrett separated its turbocharger activities from its gas-turbine group to create the AiResearch Industrial Division in Phoenix, Arizona.
- 1938
Garrett Corporation name adopted
[1]The company reorganized and adopted the Garrett Corporation name, expanding across aerospace-related divisions.
- 1936
Garrett’s predecessor is founded
[1]John Clifford Garrett established the Aircraft Tool and Supply Company in Los Angeles, the early corporate predecessor of the Garrett engineering businesses.
Products and positioning
A specialist automotive technology supplier positioned around turbocharging leadership, powertrain efficiency, emissions compliance, electrification, and high-performance forced induction.
Turbocharging
Wastegate turbochargers
Garrett wastegate turbochargers are used in gasoline and diesel engines to regulate boost pressure through a bypass mechanism. The product family is designed to support engine downsizing, torque delivery, fuel efficiency, and emissions compliance across passenger-car and commercial-vehicle applications.
Turbocharging
VNT variable-geometry turbochargers
VNT systems use adjustable turbine vanes to vary the exhaust-gas passage according to engine operating conditions. This allows the turbocharger to provide responsive low-speed behavior while continuing to support airflow and power at higher engine speeds. Garrett has applied the technology to diesel and other vehicle applications.
Commercial-vehicle turbocharging
VNT DutyDrive
VNT DutyDrive, previously associated with the Double Axle VNT designation, is a variable-geometry architecture intended for demanding truck and bus applications. Its multi-vane arrangement and dual-axle support are designed to manage airflow, durability, and boost control in heavy-duty operating cycles.
Turbocharging
Dual-stage turbochargers
Dual-stage systems combine two turbocharging units in parallel or sequential arrangements. A smaller unit can support response at low engine speeds while the second unit contributes as demand rises, allowing the powertrain to balance responsiveness, peak output, and efficiency.
Electrified powertrain technology
Electric boosting systems
Garrett’s electric boosting portfolio applies electric motors and associated control technologies to supplement conventional exhaust-driven boosting. These systems are intended to reduce response delays, improve transient torque, and support hybrid and other electrified powertrain architectures.
Motorsport equipment
Motorsport turbochargers
The Garrett brand supplies turbocharging and forced-induction equipment for racing and performance applications, including sports-car racing, drag racing, rallying, and open-wheel competition. Motorsport products emphasize high power density, thermal capability, rapid response, and durability under severe conditions.
Brand decisions
2020
Chapter 11 restructuringOtherBackground
Garrett announced that it intended to seek court protection and enter a transaction involving KPS Capital Partners.
Action taken
The company pursued Chapter 11 proceedings and a restructuring plan designed to address its financial obligations and ownership structure.
Aftermath
Garrett completed the restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 in April 2021 after court confirmation of the plan.
Equity raised during restructuring. $1.3 billion (2021 restructuring process)
2018
Separation from HoneywellStrategyBackground
Honeywell’s transportation systems business was prepared for separation into an independent automotive technology company.
Action taken
Garrett shares were distributed pro rata to Honeywell shareholders, and Garrett Motion began operating as an independent public company on October 1, 2018.
Aftermath
The separation gave the Garrett business an independent corporate identity and public listing while preserving its focus on turbocharging and related vehicle technologies.
Recent events
Reported
Garrett Motion launches predictive control software with Hyundai Motor Company[3]
Garrett Motion announced that it had launched a software solution focused on Model-Based Predictive Control technology with Hyundai Motor Company.
Reported
Garrett completes financial restructuring[4]
Garrett announced that it had exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and completed its financial restructuring.
Reported
KPS agrees to acquire Garrett's assets[5]
KPS announced that it had signed a stock and asset purchase agreement to acquire all of Garrett's assets for approximately $2.1 billion. Completion was subject to court approval and customary conditions.
Reported
Garrett Motion files for bankruptcy protection[6]
Garrett Motion filed for bankruptcy protection on September 20, 2020, and entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Reported
Garrett Motion appoints Jerome Stoll to its board[7]
Garrett Motion announced Jerome Stoll’s appointment to its board of directors, effective immediately. He will serve on the company’s Nominating and Governance Committee.
Garrett Motion restarts limited production at Wuhan plant[8]
Garrett Motion announced that its manufacturing plant in Wuhan, China, restarted limited production effective March 16, 2020, in accordance with local ordinances.
Sources9 sources
- 1Garrett Motionen.wikipedia.org
- 2Garrett Motion official websitegarrettmotion.com
- 3Garrett Motion与现代汽车推出预测控制软件finance.yahoo.com
- 4盖瑞特完成财务重组finance.sina.com.cn
- 5KPS同意收购Garrett全部资产prnasia.com
- 6Garrett Motion申请破产保护news.cnyes.com
- 7Garrett Motion任命Jerome Stoll为董事finanznachrichten.de
- 8Garrett Motion武汉工厂恢复有限生产theautochannel.com
- 9Turbocharger Manufacturer Garrett Files for Bankruptcythedrive.com
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