Panasonic 2011 Annual Report Download - page 32

Panasonic Annual Report 2011
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page 31
Business at a Glance Business Review Overseas Review by Region
GOPAN, the World’s First*1 Rice Bread
Maker to Use Rice Grains Released
Unlike existing bakeries that use rice our as
a basic ingredient, GOPAN, a rice bread
maker, bakes rice bread from rice grains using
the world’s rst*1 fully-automatic rice mill
function technology. Without having to rely
on rice our, which is in limited supply and
relatively expensive, users can enjoy baking
rice bread easily at home.
The operating results of SANYO and its subsidiaries
prior to December 2009 are not included
in Panasonic’s consolidated financial statements.
Profit/sales ratio
(¥404.8 billion)(¥–0.7 billion)
Percentage of
Fiscal 2011 Sales
Fiscal 2011 Results (Fiscal 2010 results are in brackets)
Sales Segment Profit
SANYO
–0.5%
¥1,561.9billion ¥–8.0billion
16%
In the energy eld, sales of solar photovoltaic
systems increased due mainly to growing
demand in Japan. This is attributable to the
positive effects of government and local authority
subsidy programs. Meanwhile, in rechargeable
batteries, sales of lithium-ion batteries were
sluggish due primarily to increasingly intense
competition, further declines in product prices
and the impact of the strong yen.
Under these circumstances, SANYO took
steps to develop new and innovative applica-
tions. In scal 2011, SANYO began supplying
lithium-ion batteries for electric motorcycles
manufactured by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. In
addition, SANYO joined with SUZUKI MOTOR
CORPORATION in the development of an Electric
Drive System for experimental electric scooters.
Through these and other means, SANYO is
working to expand its activities for battery
systems for electric motors.
In the electronics eld, SANYO recorded
steady sales of capacitors by expanding
applications. Optical pickups, which had recorded
steady sales in the rst half, on the other hand,
were impacted by decreasing demand in the
second half resulting in weak sales. Sales of
TVs in emerging markets were favorable. Digital
camera results, however, were weak due largely
to the drop in product prices and the impact of
increasingly intense competition.
In the ecology eld, sales of cold chain
equipment including showcases and
commercial-use kitchen instruments increased
in China. In addition, car audio equipment
results were supported by the positive
turnaround in automobile sales in North
America and China, as well as robust sales
of car navigation systems on the back of
Japan’s eco car subsidy program.
In the scal year under review, SANYO
continued to develop distinctive home appliances.
In November 2010, SANYO launched GOPAN,
a rice bread maker for baking rice bread from
rice grains at home which attracted wide
market acclaim.
In addition, SANYO decided to transfer its
three businesses (logistics, semiconductor and
motor) to other companies in scal 2011. This
decision was taken to help facilitate the selective
channeling of SANYO’s management resources
to growth elds.
Furthermore, in April 2011, SANYO
established the Energy Devices Company,
which is responsible for driving the energy
business forward. With this reorganization,
the four previously independent businesses
(rechargeable batteries, solar photovoltaic
systems, rechargeable battery for eco-cars
and large-scale storage battery systems)
have been integrated. SANYO will work to
further enhance efciency in its management
and technological development.
Robust Results in Solar Photovoltaic
Systems
SANYO is concentrating investment of its
management resources in the energy business,
which is positioned as a growth eld. This initiative
is designed to further strengthen its management
structure aiming to improve protability and to
establish continuous competitive superiority.
In this way, SANYO aims to enhance the
competitiveness of this business, a source of
sustainable prot.
In December 2010, SANYO established a
new technical facility for lithium-ion batteries
at its Tokushima Plant (Tokushima, Japan).
In the smart energy systems business where
expectations of future market growth are
high, SANYO bolstered its business promotion
structure. Turning to solar photovoltaic systems,
SANYO ramped up production capacity of its
HIT® solar cells in response to growth in
worldwide demand. As a result, SANYO
increased its annual solar cell production capacity
from 340 MW as of the end of scal 2010 to 565
MW as of the end of scal 2011.
Concentrated Investment of Management
Resources to the Energy Business
In scal 2011, sales of solar photovoltaic systems,
car electronics and cold chain equipment were
steady. On the other hand, sales of such products
as rechargeable batteries, digital cameras, and
commercial air conditioners stalled due mainly
to increased competition and the drop in demand.
As a result, SANYO sales on an overall basis
were weak.
Sales Weak due Mainly to Increased
Competition and the Drop in Demand
*1 Source: Panasonic
SANYO develops, manufactures, and sells
products in three fields: energy (solar
photovoltaic systems and rechargeable
batteries), electronics (electronic devices
and digital system devices), and ecology
(commercial equipment, home appliances,
and car electronics).
SANYO is expanding its business globally
with a particular emphasis on energy-related
businesses. To this end, SANYO promotes its
broad lineup of lithium-ion batteries for use
in such items as mobile devices and hybrid
electric vehicles (HEVs) as well as leading-edge
technologies including its HIT® solar cells that
boast high energy conversion efficiency.
SANYO