Panasonic Mobile Bullish on China

Japan’s Panasonic Mobile Communications aims to have a two-digit share of China’s mobile phone market by the end of the year. The firm is betting on better tie-ups with Chinese mobile operators and a focus on the country’s high-end handsets to achieve its goal. “We expect to grab a 10 per cent share of China’s handset market in 2005,” said Taro Itakura, managing director of Panasonic Mobile Communications’ China operations.  

A double-digit market share is likely to be a challenging goal for Panasonic; the Chinese market is already overcrowded and very competitive due to market deregulation. Currently no Chinese domestic company has more than a 10 per cent share of the market. “We are trying to build a unified and unique Panasonic brand among Chinese consumers, focusing on fashion, entertainment and high-quality,” said Itakura. Continue