Lenovo Group Limited is one of the world’s largest technology companies, specializing in computers, smartphones, servers, AI infrastructure, and IT services. It was founded in 1984 in Beijing, China, by a team led by Liu Chuanzhi. Today, Lenovo operates in more than 180 markets worldwide.
History:
1984–1993: Founding and early history
Lenovo was founded in Beijing on 1 November 1984 as Legend by a team of engineers led by Liu Chuanzhi and Danny Lui. Initially specializing in televisions, the company migrated towards manufacturing and marketing computers.
Liu Chuanzhi and his group of ten experienced engineers, teaming up with Danny Lui,[25] officially founded Lenovo in Beijing on 1 November 1984, with 200,000 yuan.[24][26] The Chinese government approved Lenovo’s incorporation on the same day. Jia Xufu (贾续福), one of the founders of Lenovo, indicated that the first meeting in preparation for starting the company was held on 17 October the same year. Eleven people, the entirety of the initial staff, attended. Each of the founders was a member of the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The 200,000 yuan used as start-up capital was approved by Zeng Maochao (曾茂朝). The name for the company agreed upon at this meeting was the Chinese Academy of Sciences Computer Technology Research Institute New Technology Development Company.
Operations:
Lenovo has operations in over 60 countries,[154] and sells its products in around 180 countries.[155] Lenovo’s principal facilities are in Beijing, Singapore, and Morrisville, North Carolina, United States, with research centers in Beijing, Singapore, Morrisville, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu, Nanjing,[156]Wuhan[157] and Yamato (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan).[158] Lenovo operates manufacturing facilities in Chengdu and Hefei in China, and in Japan. A 700-square-metre (7,500 ft2) global flagship opened in Beijing in February 2013.[54]
Lenovo’s manufacturing operations are a departure from the usual industry practice of outsourcing to contract manufacturers. Lenovo instead focuses on vertical integration in order to avoid excessive reliance on original equipment manufacturers and to keep down costs.
