Three Panasonic Automotive Plants in Japan Celebrate 50 Years of Operation

Yokohama, Japan – Panasonic Automotive Systems today announced the three main plants in Japan celebrated 50 years of operation.

Under our corporate vision, the “Joy in Motion” Design Company, we aim to create new mobility experiences by leveraging Panasonic Group’s accumulated technologies and expertise in home appliances and digital AV. We will help build a world in which all people, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, can move comfortably and with peace of mind, with mobility that is comfortable for the earth through environmental contributions.

“This 50th anniversary celebration at the Matsumoto, Tsuruga, and Shirakawa plants was only possible thanks to the understanding and support of our customers, car manufacturers, suppliers of parts and materials, and the local communities where our plants are located. We would like to express our deepest gratitude.

We are the first company in the Panasonic Group to achieve virtually zero CO₂ emissions at all of our sites (https://news.panasonic.com/global/press/en230127-2). Our energy conservation activities have further evolved, and our energy consumption reductions have exceeded 3% per year. We were also able to halve the supply chain lead time*¹ at all of our plants in Japan. These initiatives have strengthened our ability to deliver necessary goods to customers when and as needed and have also made a significant contribution to the company’s management by optimizing inventories and improving cash flow.

These three plants celebrating their 50th anniversary play leading roles in manufacturing, each with its own unique strengths. Matsumoto’s adaptability allows for concurrent development. Tsuruga’s upstream processes connect devices and technologies. Shirakawa’s semiconductor technology capabilities can carry out manufacturing that no other company can match. We will continue our efforts to create even greater value and contribute to society by further developing and integrating the technological capabilities we have cultivated through our diverse manufacturing.”

The three plants are practicing cutting-edge manufacturing in their respective production items and are also playing the role of mother plants*² for our overseas plants around the world. Aiming to celebrate our 100th anniversary in operation, the three plants will continue to evolve through friendly competition in technology and skills.

*1 Supply chain lead time: The time from receipt of demand information from car manufacturers to shipment of our products.
*2 Mother plant: With overseas factories as the children, the central factory is responsible for accelerating growth based on its unique technology and know-how. It also plays the role of accepting and training human resources from overseas.

The Matsumoto Plant is a global leader at the forefront of the Panasonic Group’s in-vehicle manufacturing. In addition to manufacturing cutting-edge in-vehicle products that create comfortable cabin spaces, such as IVI (In Vehicle Infotainment), display audio, and car navigation systems, the plant develops new manufacturing methods and trains the next generation of manufacturing leaders.

• Start of operation: April 1974
• Location: 5652 Sasaga, Matsumoto-City, Nagano
• Site area: 69,000 m², building area: 27,400 m²
• Products: IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment), display audio, car navigation systems, etc.

The Tsuruga Plant designs, develops, and manufactures in-vehicle switches and sensors. Its mission is to connect people and vehicles through its products and to provide new value to the vehicle interior space. The manufacturing site uses the latest digital capabilities to visualize waste and stagnation by using AI to analyze videos captured by 360-degree cameras, and makes daily improvements based on individual suggestions and ideas.

• Start of operation: July 1974
• Location: 26-1-1 Doh, Tsuruga-City, Fukui
• Site area: 45,700 m², building area: 28,400 m²
• Products: In-vehicle switches, back and corner sensors, head-up displays, etc.

The Shirakawa Plant employs powerful mass production technologies that support product evolution. As the core plant of three global bases, it is responsible for the mass production development and manufacturing of in-vehicle cameras and ETC in-vehicle equipment in collaboration with the China and Mexico bases. The plant contributes to the creation of a safer and more secure mobility society through the advancement of safe driving systems that reduce the number of traffic accidents and the burden on drivers, and through the linkage of automobiles and people’s lives.

• Start of operation: April 1974
• Location: 15 Shirasaka Ushimizu, Shirakawa-City, Fukushima
• Site area: 30,739m², building area: 10,343m²
• Products: In-vehicle cameras, ETC in-vehicle equipment, etc.

Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. (https://automotive.panasonic.com/en) was launched on April 1, 2022, as a business company responsible for the automotive business in line with the start of the Panasonic Group’s business company system. We are a global company with operations in 22 countries and regions, approximately 30,000 employees, and sales of approximately 1,491.9 billion yen (fiscal 2023 results). As a Tier 1 company, we provide advanced technologies unique to Panasonic, such as infotainment systems, to automakers in Japan and overseas, contributing to the creation of comfortable, safe, and secure automobiles. Our corporate vision is to be the “Joy in Motion” Design Company, and we are committed to meeting the expectations of our customers around the world with technology that stands by people.

Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communication Division
Email: press-pas@ml.jp.panasonic.com

1970s: Car radios
1980s: 8-track car stereo
1990s: Car CD players.
2000s: Car navigation systems, car multimedia, portable navigation systems, memory navigation systems
2010s: In-car terrestrial digital tuners, electronic mirrors (inner and outer), head-up displays
2020s: IVI

1970s: In-vehicle switches, remote controls, speakers
1980s: PC keyboards, steering wheel switches
1990s: Steering angle sensors
2010s: Sensors, Camera ECU
2020s: Steering ECU, head-up display

1970s: Magnetic heads, microphones
1980s: Video cameras, hearing aids
1990s: CCTV cameras (surveillance cameras)
2000s: Mobile phone cameras, in-vehicle cameras, in-vehicle microphones
2020s: ETC in-vehicle equipment