Predator is Harbor Freight Tools’ generator and engine brand; Harbor Freight’s own manuals identify its retail/support role, but a single OEM for the entire generator range is Unconfirmed. [1][2]

Who makes Predator Generators?

Owner
Harbor Freight Tools; Eric Smidt is identified as owner in dated 2025 reporting. [3][1]
Made by
Contract manufacturers supplying Harbor Freight; the reviewed generator manual does not name the engine or generator OEM. [1][2]
Made in
China is confirmed for the recalled battery-powered Predator 70084 power station; gasoline-generator factory allocations are Unconfirmed here. [4][1]

Last checked · 4 sources · English source review

Predator Generators supply chain map

Select a node to inspect its role and evidence. Arrows show ownership or manufacturing relationships, not shipment volumes.

Brand

→ Owner

→ Manufacturer

→ Factory

Predator Generators

Predator is Harbor Freight Tools’ generator and engine brand; Harbor Freight’s own manuals identify its retail/support role, but a single OEM for the entire generator range is Unconfirmed.

Evidence: [1][2]

Text version of the map

  • Predator Generators (Brand): Predator is Harbor Freight Tools’ generator and engine brand; Harbor Freight’s own manuals identify its retail/support role, but a single OEM for the entire generator range is Unconfirmed. [1][2]
  • Predator Generators → Harbor Freight Tools (Owner): Harbor Freight Tools; Eric Smidt is identified as owner in dated 2025 reporting. [3][1]
  • Harbor Freight Tools → Predator Generators manufacturing (Manufacturer): Contract manufacturers supplying Harbor Freight; the reviewed generator manual does not name the engine or generator OEM. [1][2]
  • Predator Generators manufacturing → China — 70084 battery power station only (Factory): CPSC country evidence does not establish gasoline-generator origin. [4]

Who owns Predator Generators?

The copyright-2025 Predator manual is issued by Harbor Freight Tools and provides Predator support contacts. Dated reporting identifies Harbor Freight’s owner as Eric Smidt. [1][3]

Ownership guides: Harbor Freight ToolsBauer ToolsHercules ToolsICON ToolsPittsburgh tools

Who actually makes Predator Generators products?

The manual identifies the product and support channel, without naming a single OEM for the whole Predator generator or engine range. Harbor Freight’s vendor guidelines document supplier requirements, not a brand-wide factory identity. [1][2]

Where are Predator Generators products made?

The July 2025 CPSC notice identifies China-made Predator 2000W battery power stations, SKU 70084, with Harbor Freight as importer/distributor. That is a different product from the gasoline generator in the manual, so the origin is not silently transferred. [4][1]

Is Predator Generators made in China or the USA?

The recalled battery power station was China-made. The cited evidence does not establish the assembly country or engine maker for every gasoline Predator generator; those claims remain Unconfirmed. [4][1]

Same factory, different label

Predator and ICON are Harbor Freight brands. A common retailer or a design resembling another engine does not prove a common manufacturer, licensed design or interchangeable components. [2][1]

Compare the sourced ownership and manufacturing guides: Harbor Freight ToolsICON ToolsHondaCub CadetBauer ToolsHercules ToolsPittsburgh tools

Ownership timeline

  1. 1999: Eric Smidt’s Harbor Freight buyout is documented in later reporting. [3]
  2. 2025: Harbor Freight issued the reviewed Predator generator manual. [1]
  3. 2025-07-03: CPSC identified the separate battery-powered 70084 power station in a recall. [4]

Frequently asked questions

4 questions about this supply chain, answered from the records above.

Where are predator engines made?

China is confirmed for the recalled battery-powered Predator 70084 power station; gasoline-generator factory allocations are Unconfirmed here.[4][1]

Where are predator generators made?

China is confirmed for the recalled battery-powered Predator 70084 power station; gasoline-generator factory allocations are Unconfirmed here.[4][1]

Who makes predator engines?

Contract manufacturers supplying Harbor Freight; the reviewed generator manual does not name the engine or generator OEM.[1][2]

Who makes predator generators?

Contract manufacturers supplying Harbor Freight; the reviewed generator manual does not name the engine or generator OEM.[1][2]

Sources and scope

Year-only source dates denote the report’s coverage year. Dated disclosures establish the facts described at that time. Plant output, contracts and ownership can change; this is a selected map, not a complete supplier census.

  1. [1] Predator 73422 generator manual — 2025 · Primary source · Reviewed 2026-10-21.

    Copyright-2025 Harbor Freight manual identifies a specific Predator generator and the retailer’s support role; does not name the OEM.

  2. [2] Harbor Freight domestic vendor guidelines — 2025-07 · Primary source · Reviewed 2026-10-21.

    July 2025 guidelines describe supplier manufacturing/testing requirements.

  3. [3] Los Angeles Business Journal: Eric Smidt — 2025-07-15 · Reporting · Reviewed 2026-10-21.

    July 2025 reporting identifies Eric Smidt as Harbor Freight owner.

  4. [4] CPSC Predator power station recall — 2025-07-03 · Primary source · Reviewed 2026-10-21.

    July 3, 2025 CPSC record identifies Harbor Freight as importer/distributor and China as origin for the battery-powered 70084 power station only.

Unconfirmed

  • Gasoline Predator generator/engine OEM legal names, factories and model-specific countries.
  • Any assertion that the 70084 battery-power-station supplier also makes Predator gasoline engines.