America Kotobuki Electronics Industries
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | 2001 Kotobuki Way, Vancouver, Washington, U.S. |
Number of employees | 400+ (2001) |
America Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Inc. was an American electronics manufacturer owned by Matsushita. The company was based in Vancouver, Washington, and produced televisions and VCRs, including the Panasonic TV/VCR combination units and rear projection televisions, producing its last television in February 2008.[1]
History
In 1986, Matsushita opened its manufacturing plant in Vancouver, Washington.[1] The subsidiary, named "America Kotobuki Electronics Industries", originally produces 20-inch and larger televisions for General Electric.[2]
In January 1987, due to contract breakdowns, Matsushita announced that it will stop production of GE televisions, and America Kotobuki was adjusting its production to focus on video-tape recorders (VCRs) for GE.[2]
On November 29, 2001, Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics Industries of America laid off 202 workers at its manufacturing plant, representing roughly 44% of the workforce, shifting production to Indonesia due to slowing demand.[3][4]
In October 2002, Matsushita laid off an additional 150 workers at the plant, due to a halt in production for Panasonic televisions and VCRs. The fired employees were potentially being rehired within one to two weeks.[5]
In September 2003, Matsushita was expanding production at its Vancouver, Washington, plant to include additional finished products, including 20-inch TV/VCR and TV/DVD player combination units.[6]
In January 2008, Panasonic announced it will close the manufacturing plant in Vancouver, Washington by the end of March of this year, affecting 87 employees.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Panasonic to close its Vancouver TV plant in March". OregonLive.com. January 29, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- 1 2 "Matsushita will stop supplying GE with color TVs". Los Angeles Times. January 7, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Electronics jobs move overseas". Heraldnet.com. November 30, 2001. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Business Digest". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 30, 2001. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ George W. Bush White House Archives link. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
- ↑ Fedreal Register - September 3, 2003 Retrieved March 26, 2026.