Panasonic Moves Production Base of Domestic use Air Conditioner from China to Kusatsu Factory in Japan

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

パナソニック 国内向けエアコン生産拠点を中国から草津工場に

2023年6月23日 6時20分

パナソニックは、日本国内向けの省エネ性能が高いエアコンの生産拠点を、中国から滋賀県の草津工場に移すことになりました。国内での上位機種へのニーズの高まりや、地政学的なリスクを考慮したとしています。

パナソニックは記者会見を開き、今後のエアコン事業の方針などを説明しました。

会社は、現在、日本国内向けの省エネ性能が高い機種については、中国南部・広州の工場と滋賀県の草津工場で生産を行っていますが、来年度にかけて草津工場に集約するということです。

国内での上位機種へのニーズの高まりに加えて、米中関係の悪化や、新型コロナの感染拡大に伴う上海での厳しい外出制限など、地政学的なリスクを意識して決めたとしています。

会社では今回の措置で商品の保管にかかるコストを削減したり、納品までの時間をおよそ4分の1に短縮したりできると見込んでいます。

草津工場では、これに対応するため、雇用をおよそ2割増やすとともに生産ラインの自動化も進める方針です。

パナソニック空質空調社の道浦正治社長は「マーケットに近いところで変化に対応した商品を迅速に提供していきたい。サプライチェーンの問題など地政学的なリスクを避けるねらいもあるが、国内に生産を移しても十分戦えると確信している」と話しています。

Translation

Panasonic had decided to move from China to the Kusatsu Factory in Shiga Prefecture the production base for high energy-saving performance air conditioners that aimed at the Japanese domestic market. It was said that it took into consideration the growing need for high-end models in Japan as well as geopolitical risks.

Panasonic held a press conference and explained the future policy of the air conditioner business.

The company currently produced models with high energy-saving performance for the Japanese market at factories in Guangzhou in southern China, and Kusatsu Factory in Shiga Prefecture, but they would be consolidated at the Kusatsu Factory next fiscal year.

In addition to the growing need for high-end models in Japan, the decision was made with an awareness of geopolitical risks such as the deterioration of US-China relations and strict restrictions on movement in Shanghai due to the spread of the new corona infection.

The company expected that this measure could reduce the cost of storing products and shorten the delivery time by about a quarter.

The Kusatsu Factory, in order to respond to this, planned to increase employment by approximately 20% and to promote automation of production lines.

Shōji Michiura (道浦正治), President of Panasonic Air-Quality Air-Conditioning Company said, "We want to quickly provide products that respond to changes from a location close to the market. We aim to avoid geopolitical risks such as supply chain problems, I am confident that I can compete well even if I move the production in Japan."

              So, the worry about geopolitical risks such as possible supply chain problems, together with the deterioration of US-China relations is damaging the business environment in China. Probably this trend will continue in the foreseeable future.