It is reported that Panasonic spent 10 billion yen to return the middle and high-end air conditioning production line to Japan, and had previously reached a strategic cooperation with Xiaomi.
CTOnews.com, June 23, according to the Nippon Keizai Shimbun, Panasonic Holdings will move its production line of mid-and high-end household air conditioners from China to Japan by 2024.
▲ Tu Yuan: Panasonic reported that about 90% of Panasonic air conditioners sold in Japan are produced at Panasonic's Guangzhou plant, except for the top models. But from 2023, all Panasonic's high-end air conditioners will be made in Japan. Starting from 2024, Panasonic's mid-end air conditioners will also be produced in places such as the Kusumi plant in Shiga prefecture, Japan. This means that about 40% of Panasonic's air conditioning capacity has returned to Japan.
▲ source: according to Panasonic, Panasonic is to adapt to the supply chain uncertainty caused by trade frictions, and also hopes to promote the process of local production and local sales, so as to improve production and operational efficiency.
▲ source: Panasonic reported that Panasonic's investment to change the origin is about 10 billion yen (CTOnews.com Note: currently about 504 million yuan). Panasonic will use the generalization of parts, robot production and other methods to reduce costs. Panasonic said that after returning to local production in Japan, the waiting period from the next order to delivery will be shortened to the current 1/10. Panasonic predicts that a return to local production in Japan will bring additional benefits of about 4 billion yen a year (currently about 202 million yuan).
▲ Tu Yuan: Taopu Masaji, president of Panasonic Air Conditioner, who is in charge of air conditioning development and production by Xiaomi, said that in order to provide products close to the market, it is necessary to return to domestic production in Japan. CTOnews.com has previously reported that Panasonic Air conditioners and Xiaomi have reached a strategic cooperation, not only in the field of contract manufacturing, but also in technology research and development to achieve resource sharing.
