Panasonic cranks out its 300 millionth TV

We've wondered why Matsushita Electric took such a long time to make the name switch to Panasonic, but this little factoid might explain some of the timing -- Panasonic just capped off its 300 millionth TV. Even though the company has always badged TVs with the "Panasonic" name plate in the US, 105 million units were cranked out under the "National" brand before "Panasonic" was used across all markets for the subsequent 195 million units. According to the press release, the company isn't slowing down, either -- it may have taken its sweet time (since 1961) to hit the 300 million mark, but the 400 million figure might come up in the next "few years." We figure that after the first 300 million, the company can pretty much produce TVs in its sleep.

[Juxtah @ Oct 8th 2008 4:06PM]

Congratulations Panasonic :)

I own one of their TV's and it's been nothing but flawless since I got it, so keep it up Panny.

[Imran @ Oct 8th 2008 4:07PM]

Heheh, congrats, job well done ;)

[David @ Oct 8th 2008 4:13PM]

Matsushita also sold televisions under the Quasar brand in the U.S. after it bought the division from Motorola.

[Starnerf @ Oct 8th 2008 4:17PM]

Panasonic does make great stuff. My first and current tv is a Panny, had it for 9 or 10 years now and it still works great. And my car stereo is a Panny, too.

[bangladeshiluv @ Oct 8th 2008 4:26PM]

they'll all end up in rural china

[kali4 @ Oct 8th 2008 4:33PM]

Congrats Panny! As a celebration of your landmark, how's about you go ahead and send me a shiny new set. I will blow the box dust off of it and proclaim your excellence to the world!!!!

Wha? Not swayed by my congenial congrats and promises of advertising? Oh well, there's always Engadget giveaways... *wink, wink, nod, nod

[kali4 @ Oct 9th 2008 9:32AM]

tip for posters:

Exclamations of FIRST!!! and requests for high ranking almost always results in a "Lowest Ranked" status with your comments very close to invisible.

[BigD145 @ Oct 8th 2008 4:59PM]

How many of those fill up landfills and how many of them does the company take in to reuse and recycle?

[KRIS_C_123 @ Oct 8th 2008 5:21PM]

5

[blevay @ Oct 8th 2008 5:05PM]

That's almost 1 TV per person in the US....

[KRIS_C_123 @ Oct 8th 2008 5:25PM]

thats almost 180 tv's per person in Northern Ireland

[WiiFTW @ Oct 8th 2008 5:36PM]

Thats almost 300,000,000/824 = 364,078 TVs per person in the Vatican. I can picture the Vatican filled with TVs

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 8th 2008 5:06PM]

Tip for kali4:

True trolls heed not this warning.

[adrian @ Oct 8th 2008 5:25PM]

Matsushita Electric still sounds better.

[Electronics Review @ Oct 8th 2008 8:31PM]

Congratulations Panasonic. Good to see a long-lasting brand that can get by without a government bailout.
http://www.youreviewelectronics.com/panasonic-tv-reviews/

[Crooked Style @ Oct 8th 2008 9:18PM]

No, it should be OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cc @ Oct 9th 2008 12:59AM]

well... we would be more please if YOU PANASONIC would also plant a tree when you crank out every TV. Building millions TV doesn't make you Number 1! But building a better world DO!