Panasonic Considering Offshore Options
According to a Nikkei report, via Reuters, rumor is Panasonic is considering moving some production offshore: http://bit.ly/HE39LR
It should be noted that all major Jpn players have long well-established activities in lower cost centers outside Japan, especially for their key focus on global component market. [Eds]
Panasonic to outsource mobile phones production
A Reuters report on Sunday stated that Panasonic still manufactured more than half of its mobile phones in Japan currently, but this is set to change. Production from its Shizuoka factory, which accounts for more than half the company’s output, will be moved to Beijing and Malaysia, while some will be contracted to overseas manufacturers, it stated.
Once the outsourcing is complete, the electronics company will be the first Japanese company to produce all of its handsets abroad, the report added. There is the possibility that manufacturing of certain models may remain on local shores, though.
Panasonic sold five million handsets globally in its last fiscal year, making it the No. 3 domestic manufacturer behind Sharp and Fujitsu, it stated. However, it is projecting to triple that figure to 15 million by fiscal year 2016 by re-entering overseas markets–which it hoped will contribute 9 million unit sales. The company had exited these markets in 2005, the report stated.
When contacted by ZDNet Asia for clarification, a Panasonic spokesperson said, “With regard to the strategic relocation of Panasonic’s mobile phone business, [the company is] considering various options but details are still being worked out.”