Splendide laundry appliances are made by Indesit Company and imported to USA by Westland company. It is highly likely as Sears did Whirlpool, Indesit makes various modifications to "Splendide" units per request of Westland. Latter has been importing such units since 2013 if not before so there is a long relationship and history of units sold in USA.
Indesit was purchased by Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA in 1987, Whirlpool got their mitts on them next.
Sorting out what Merloni made what appliance wise is complicated.
Aristide Merloni had three sons whom each inherited bit of their father's businesses upon his death.
Merloni Elettrodomestici - Indesit Company, directed by Vittorio Merloni
Merloni Termosanitari - Ariston Thermo Group, directed by Francesco Merloni
Mechanical sector, managed by Antonio Merloni.
Antonio Merloni put together Antonio Merloni Cylinders Ghergo Group S.p.A. after merging with Ardo producing among other things washing machines, refrigerators and other appliances. After subsequently becoming "Antonio Merloni S.p.A.", Antonio Merloni went on a buying spree snapping up old appliance names across Europe such as Servis Ltd, Philco, etc... Appliances were made largely made in Italy but exported to other parts of Europe and sold under brand names people knew.
Antonio Merloni S.p.A sold washing machines, dryers and combo units marketed under "Malber" that were imported by that company. My old (long since sold on) Malber washer manufacturing tag stated it was "Philco..."
At some point things switched up between the Merloni brothers and Splendide seems to have replaced Malber.
https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?17068
https://www.absak.com/pdf/manuals/Malber/WDman.pdf
Far as USA market was concerned those wanting (or needing) an inexpensive front loading (read couldn't afford Miele, Asko, Bosch or Creda) and one that ran on 120v current turned to Malber, Equator or later Splendide.