Panasonic no longer makes TVs in Japan
Officials at Panasonic have confirmed they no longer make TV sets in Japan. They say they will focus on overseas production.
The last made-in-Japan Panasonic TVs stopped rolling off lines at a factory north of Tokyo at the end of March. The officials said the small-lot manufacturing was costly, hurting company earnings.
Production will continue in Malaysia, the Czech Republic and other countries.
The electronics giant is also negotiating to outsource manufacturing of small and medium-sized liquid-crystal display TVs to Chinese rival TCL.
The officials say their plant outside Tokyo will be used for developing TV-manufacturing methods and as a base for making replacement parts.