TOKYO—Matsushita Communication Industrial, the largest mobile handset manufacturer in Japan, announced it will cease production of handsets at its U.K. factories in March 2002.
Upon ceasing its production at its British factories—one is in Thacham, Berkshire, and the other in Portsmouth in southern Britain—Matsushita is going to shift all its handset production in Europe to its new factory in the Czech Republic in April 2002.
The move is part of the restructuring program of the Matsushita firm, which suffered from significant loss in the first half of fiscal year 2001 between April and September due to gloomy sales of handsets. Although production will be ceased in Britain, Matsushita said it will continue development and design of handsets in Britain.
