Closing the TV era, made in Japan, Panasonic delivers wood per Skyworth. 🚨

Turn off another Japanese TV maker legend, when Panasonic announces a strategic partnership with Skyworth, a major appliance manufacturer from China, preparing to transfer its manufacturing, sales, marketing and logistics role in the European and North American markets to the partner to take over, with the deal taking effect from April 1, 2026 onwards.

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Under the new model, Skyworth will fully manufacture and market Panasonic-branded TVs in the aforementioned region, while Panasonic will continue to oversee technology development, quality control and audio-visual standards, specifically the high-end OLED segment that the two companies will jointly develop to maintain their long-established brand identity.

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This move reflects the direction that Panasonic has gradually reduced its role in the TV business over the past decade, after discontinuing plasma TV production in 2014 from fierce competition and cost pressures, before gradually withdrawing from the U.S. market and turning to outsourcing.

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Despite the company's resumed penetration of the American market in 2024 with OLED and Mini LED TVs raising design selling points in Japan, early 2025 senior executives acknowledged it was ready to consider strategic options with the business.

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The Skyworth side is considered one of the major players of the global TV market. It used to rank 1 of the top 5 revenue brands in the first quarter of 2025 and has huge manufacturing potential. This will help Panasonic reduce costs and increase competitiveness.

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However, Panasonic confirmed that it will continue to provide after-sales support to its already-released TVs, including new models after April 2026, with a go-ahead for continued product development, despite production no longer being in Japan.

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Source: Nikkei Asia

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