Panasonic plans AC production switch to Japan
23rd June 2023
JAPAN: Panasonic says it will transfer the production and R&D of certain air conditioners, currently produced in China for its domestic market, back to Japan.
Room air conditioners for the Japanese market are currently produced at its Kusatsu, Shiga prefecture, plant and the Guangzhou factory in China.
“In the future, we will invest in facilities such as the Kusatsu plant for high-end, high-value-added, high-end, mid-range models that are expected to be in demand in Japan, and transfer production from the Guangzhou plant,” the company said.
According to Nikkei Asia, the Japanese manufacturer will spend around $70m on new production lines at its plants, with the production transfer happening in stages this year.
“Our company has traditionally promoted “local production for local consumption” manufacturing that takes advantage of our location close to the market, and has developed products that reflect customer needs in a timely and speedy manner,” the company said in a statement.
Panasonic says the move will reduce distribution inventory and prevent shortages. In addition, it will introduce a new method of standardising and modularising parts, greatly reducing development and manufacturing time.
