In a surprise announcement, Panasonic says it’ll stop the production of solar panels. The former leading manufacturer quit the business citing fierce competition from Chinese rivals that can produce at lower cost.
The company will end manufacturing as early as March at factories in Malaysia and Japan’s Shimane prefecture.
Moving forward, Panasonic says it’ll use manufacturing partners to produce panels with its brand name, which it’ll continue to sell to the U.S. and foreign markets.
“We are considering various measures to strengthen the management structure of the solar business but at this point, nothing has been decided,” Panasonic said in a statement to Reuters.
The company ceased production of solar cells and modules in Buffalo, New York, in the summer of 2020, completing the withdrawal in September.
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