Teenage Engineering to Exit Synthesizer Market
AI-generated image · US National Wire
CEO Jesper Kouthoofd signals a strategic shift away from the hardware that built the brand's reputation.
Teenage Engineering plans to cease the production of synthesizers, including the company's flagship OP-1, according to reporting from The Verge.
In an interview with Highsnobiety, Teenage Engineering founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd revealed that he informed his team of the decision during a reorganization last autumn. Kouthoofd stated that he reached the conclusion that the products themselves are not the core business for the firm, adding, “We can be so much more than that.”
The move marks a significant departure for the company, as much of its proprietary hardware portfolio is audio-centric, including the OP-XY, EP-133, and TP-7. While the OP-1 is credited with putting the company on the map following its 2011 launch, the firm has increasingly operated as a design house. The Verge notes that Teenage Engineering has previously collaborated with external partners such as Nothing, Ikea, and Playdate.
Teenage Engineering did not provide a comment to The Verge regarding the announcement.