For over a hundred years, Briggs & Stratton has been a familiar name behind the roar of small engines powering lawns, farms, workshops, and job sites throughout America.  From lawn mowers to generators, the brand became a household name long before most people ever thought about who actually made the machines keeping their yards trimmed and their power on during storms. Its logo, often stamped right on the engine cover, became a quiet symbol of reliability for generations of homeowners and professionals alike.

But the story of Briggs & Stratton is not a simple one of steady success. It is a story of innovation, market dominance, financial struggle, and eventual reinvention. In this article, we will walk through the company’s history, its brush with bankruptcy, its current ownership, and what the future may hold for one of America’s most recognizable engine manufacturers.

Briggs & Stratton at a Glance

Founded in 1908 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Briggs & Stratton was established by entrepreneurs Stephen Briggs and Harold Stratton.  What began as a small engineering venture eventually grew into the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Over the decades, the company built a reputation for engineering small, dependable engines that powered everything from lawn mowers to pressure washers, generators, and go-karts.

At its peak, Briggs & Stratton was not just a manufacturer but a defining force in the small-engine industry, supplying engines to major equipment brands worldwide. The company’s product lineup expanded to include batteries, commercial power systems, and standby generators, reflecting its effort to diversify beyond residential lawn equipment. This broad portfolio made Briggs & Stratton a name recognized far beyond the United States, with a manufacturing and distribution footprint spanning multiple continents.

Does Briggs & Stratton Still Operate Today?

Yes, Briggs & Stratton remains fully operational and continues to conduct business today.  Despite going through significant financial turmoil, the company continues to design, manufacture, and sell engines and power equipment under its well-known brand names. It remains headquartered in Wisconsin and continues to serve both residential and commercial markets around the world.

The company that exists today, however, is structurally different from the publicly traded corporation many people remember. It now operates as a privately held business under new ownership, having rebuilt its operations after a major restructuring. The restructuring enabled Briggs & Stratton to ease its debt burden and refocus on its core engine and power equipment operations, giving the company a more stable path for future growth.

From Industry Leader to Bankruptcy: What Changed?

For decades, Briggs & Stratton enjoyed a dominant position in the small-engine market, but shifting industry dynamics slowly eroded that advantage. Rising competition from lower-cost manufacturers, changing consumer habits, and increasing operational costs put pressure on profit margins. At the same time, the company had accumulated a substantial amount of debt, which limited its flexibility to adapt quickly to these market changes.

In the years leading up to its financial collapse, Briggs & Stratton had been accumulating debt and losing money. The company had reportedly considered selling off certain product lines to concentrate more heavily on commercial batteries, engines, and power generation equipment. These mounting financial pressures, combined with disrupted supply chains and softening demand in key segments, eventually made it impossible for the company to continue operating under its existing financial structure.

The Turning Point in Briggs & Stratton’s History

The defining moment in the company’s modern history came in July 2020, when the century-old engine maker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and simultaneously entered into a sale agreement with private equity firm KPS Capital Partners. This was not a simple liquidation; it was a structured plan designed to keep the business running while shedding its unsustainable debt.

The company secured $677.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing to maintain normal operations throughout the bankruptcy process, ensuring employees continued to be paid and customer orders kept moving. By September 2020, the U.S. The Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri approved the sale, allowing Briggs & Stratton to officially emerge from Chapter 11 as an independent company supported by KPS Capital Partners.  This restructuring wiped away the crushing legacy debt that had weighed the company down for years.

Commercial and Professional Power Systems

In addition to serving residential lawn-care needs, Briggs & Stratton has established a strong foothold in commercial and professional power equipment. Its Vanguard line, in particular, is widely used in demanding industrial and commercial applications, powering equipment such as pressure washers, generators, construction tools, and turf care machinery. These engines are built for durability under heavy daily use, distinguishing them from engines designed purely for occasional homeowner use.

The company has also pushed into newer territory, including standby generators for homes and businesses that need reliable backup power during outages. Around the time of its restructuring, Briggs & Stratton had even launched a line of Vanguard lithium-ion batteries aimed at powering autonomous and electric equipment, signaling an effort to modernize its offerings. This diversification into commercial-grade power systems has helped the company maintain relevance among professional users, contractors, and rental equipment businesses that depend on dependable performance.

Are Briggs & Stratton Engines Still Manufactured?

Briggs & Stratton engines are indeed still being manufactured and sold today. Under its current ownership, the company has continued producing engines for lawn mowers, pressure washers, generators, and other outdoor power equipment, maintaining its manufacturing operations rather than shutting them down. The brand names customers have trusted for years, including Vanguard and the core Briggs & Stratton engine line, remain active in the market.

Manufacturing has continued across the company’s global facilities, supporting both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket parts customers. While the corporate ownership structure changed dramatically, the engineering teams, product lines, and production facilities largely carried forward into the new company. This continuity has been important for maintaining customer trust, since many buyers simply want to know that replacement parts and new equipment will still be available for years to come.

Is the Briggs & Stratton Brand Disappearing or Evolving?

Rather than disappearing, the Briggs & Stratton brand appears to be evolving to fit a changing market. The restructuring under KPS Capital Partners was specifically designed to preserve the brand’s value while removing the financial baggage that had threatened its survival. Following the sale, Briggs & Stratton began operating as an independent company with the long-term backing of KPS, a private equity firm with a track record of supporting industrial businesses.

This evolution includes a renewed focus on research, product development, and strategic growth. KPS indicated it planned to accelerate the company’s growth by increasing investment in research and development, technology, and new product development, while also providing capital for future acquisitions. This suggests a brand that is not fading away, but rather repositioning itself to compete more effectively in a modern power equipment landscape shaped by electrification and changing customer expectations.

What the Future Looks Like for Briggs & Stratton

Looking ahead, Briggs & Stratton’s future is likely to depend on how well the company builds on its established strengths while adapting to changing market demands and new industry trends. The company’s long history of engineering reliable small engines gives it a strong foundation, but the broader industry is increasingly shaped by demand for battery-powered and more environmentally friendly equipment. Briggs & Stratton’s response to this shift could have a significant impact on its position in the market over the coming years.

With private equity backing focused on growth and acquisitions, the company has more room to invest in new technology than it did in its final years as a heavily indebted public company. Continued expansion of its commercial power systems, along with further development of battery and hybrid solutions, could help the brand stay relevant to both homeowners and professional users. The path forward will depend on execution, but the structural foundation for a more sustainable future is now in place.

Conclusion

Briggs & Stratton’s journey from a small Milwaukee startup to a global engine manufacturer, through financial crisis, and into a restructured, privately owned company is a reminder that even the most established brands must adapt to survive. The bankruptcy of 2020 was a painful chapter, but it also cleared the way for a leaner, more focused business built around the company’s core strengths in engines and power equipment.

Today, Briggs & Stratton continues to manufacture the engines and power systems that generations of customers have relied on, while positioning itself for future growth under new ownership. Whether the brand ultimately thrives in this next chapter will depend on how well it balances its legacy of reliability with the innovation demanded by a rapidly changing power equipment industry.