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{{Short description|Japanese electronics company}}
{{Distinguish|Sansui Electric|Sany}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
| native_name = 三洋電機株式会社
| romanized_name = ''San'yō Denki Kabushiki-gaisha''
| logo = Sanyo logo.svg
| logo_caption = Logo since 1987
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| slogan = 
| founder = [[Toshio Iue]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1947}}<br />{{start date and age|1950|04}} (incorporated)<ref name="outline-2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/profile/group-companies/sanyo.html |title=SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. |publisher=[[Panasonic]] |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>
| fate = Acquired by [[Panasonic]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2010/07/30/consolidation-continues-panasonic-to-buy-sanyo/|title = Consolidation Continues: Panasonic to Buy Sanyo|date = July 30, 2010|access-date = November 26, 2020|archive-date = January 12, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210112135051/https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/2010/07/30/consolidation-continues-panasonic-to-buy-sanyo/|url-status = dead}}</ref>
| location = 2-1-61 Shiromi, [[Chūō-ku, Osaka]], [[Osaka Prefecture]], Japan
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Seiichirou Igaki ([[President (corporate title)|president]])<ref name="outline-2019" />
| industry = [[Electronics]]
| num_employees = 104,882 (consolidated)<br/>9,504 (non-consolidated)<br />(March 31, 2010)<ref name="Corporate Profile - outline">{{cite web|url=http://panasonic.net/sanyo/corporate/profile/outline.html |title=Outline |publisher=[[Panasonic]] |access-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409191911/http://panasonic.net/sanyo/corporate/profile/outline.html |archive-date=April 9, 2011}}</ref>
| products = {{hlist|[[Consumer electronic]]s|[[Dry battery|dry batteries]]|vacuum cleaners|[[cellular phone]]s}}
| revenue = {{decrease}} [[Japanese yen|¥]]84.678 billion (2018)<ref name="IR-2019">{{cite web|url=https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/AS02420/e9d0946b/c7c2/42fa/835d/d297bfa163bb/20191028095327911s.pdf |title=2019 Integrated Report |publisher=Sanyo |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} ¥6.590 billion (2018)<ref name="IR-2019" />
| net_income = {{decrease}} ¥4.983 billion (2018)<ref name="IR-2019" />
| assets = {{decrease}} ¥106.304 billion (2018)<ref name="IR-2019" />
| equity = {{increase}} ¥64.832 billion (2018)<ref name="IR-2019" />
| parent = [[Panasonic]]
| homepage = {{URL|sanyo-av.com}} (Audiovisual products, American market only)
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.'''|三洋電機株式会社|San'yō Denki Kabushiki-gaisha}} was a Japanese electronics manufacturer founded in 1947 by [[Toshio Iue]], the brother-in-law of [[Kōnosuke Matsushita]], the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial, now known as [[Panasonic]]. Iue left Matsushita Electric to start his own business, acquiring some of its equipment to produce bicycle generator lamps. In 1950, the company was established. Sanyo began to diversify in the 1960s, having launched Japan's first spray-type washing machine in 1953. In the 2000s, it was known as one of the 3S along with [[Sony]] and [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]]. Sanyo also focused on solar cell and lithium battery businesses. In 1992, it developed the world's first [[hybrid solar cell]], and in 2002, it had a 41% share of the global [[lithium-ion battery]] market. In its heyday in 2003, Sanyo had sales of about ¥2.5 trillion. However, it fell into a financial crisis as a result of its huge investment in the [[semiconductor]] business. In 2009, Sanyo was acquired by Panasonic, and in 2011, it was fully consolidated into Panasonic and its brand disappeared. The company now only exists as a legal entity to settle final business obligations.

==History==
===Beginnings===
[[File:SANYO Electric Old logo 1976.png|thumb|Old logo, used from 1961 to 1987]]
[[File:Sanyo Transistor.jpg|thumb|Transistor radio, model 8S-P3, released in 1959]]Sanyo was founded when [[Toshio Iue]], the brother-in-law of [[Konosuke Matsushita]] and also a former [[Panasonic Corporation|Matsushita]] employee, was lent an unused Matsushita plant in 1947 and used it to make bicycle generator lamps. Sanyo was incorporated in 1949; it made Japan's first [[plastic]] [[radio]] in 1952 and Japan's first pulsator-type [[washing machine]] in 1954.<ref name="Corporate Profile - outline" />  The company's name means ''three oceans'' in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], referring to the founder's ambition to sell their products worldwide, across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean|Indian]] oceans.

===Sanyo in America===
In 1969, [[Howard Ladd]] became the Executive Vice President and COO of Sanyo Corporation. Ladd introduced the Sanyo brand to the United States in 1970. The ambition to sell Sanyo products worldwide was realized in the mid-1970s after Sanyo introduced home audio equipment, car stereos and other consumer electronics to the North American market. The company embarked on a heavy television-based advertising campaign.

Ladd negotiated a purchase of the [[Fisher Electronics]] audio equipment manufacturer by Sanyo in May 1975.<ref name=SanyoHistory>{{cite news|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/sanyo-electric-co-ltd |date=2006|title=SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.|access-date=March 27, 2019}}</ref> Under Ladd's leadership, the Fisher Corporation under Sanyo grew to be a multi-million dollar leader in the consumer [[electronics industry]]. The new, profitable Fisher Corporation moved its headquarters from New York to Ladd's Los Angeles. Ladd was named president and CEO of the combined Sanyo / Fisher Corporation in 1977, serving until 1987.<ref name=Obituary>{{cite news|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/sanyo-electric-co-ltd |date=August 29, 1908|title=Obituary Notices|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 27, 2019|location=Los Angeles, California}}</ref>

Ladd was instrumental at Sanyo in promoting [[Quadraphonic sound]] audio equipment for the American market, producing 4-channel audio equipment in both [[Quadraphonic sound#Discrete (4–4–4) formats|discrete]] and [[Quadraphonic sound#Matrix (4–2–4) formats|matrix]] formats. He said "we make all kinds of quadrasonic equipment because this is the business we're in... let the consumer buy the kind of software he prefers and we'll provide him the hardware to play it on".<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Sanyo to Bow TVC, 9 Music Systems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OwkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Howard+ladd%22+video&pg=RA1-PA39 |magazine=Billboard |location=Los Angeles, California |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |date=May 5, 1973 |access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref>

Sanyo realized tremendous growth during Ladd's tenure in the 1970s; annual sales grew from $71.4 million ({{Inflation|US|71400000|1972|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) in 1972 to $855 million ({{Inflation|US|855000000|1978|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) in 1978.<ref name=SanyoHistory/>

After a fairly slow selling line in their own [[V-Cord]] video format, Sanyo adopted [[Sony]]'s [[Betamax]] video cassette format around 1977 with initial success, including SuperBeta and Beta Hi-Fi models.  From around 1984 onwards, production switched entirely to [[VHS]].

In 1976, Sanyo expanded their North American presence with the purchase of [[Whirlpool Corporation]]'s television business, Warwick Electronics, which manufactured televisions for [[Sears]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/09/02/a-curious-marriage/c759bf9f-8855-4683-89ed-4e3920e13163/ |last=Reid|first=T. R.|date=September 2, 1977|title=A Curious Marriage|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.whirlpoolcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/history_100years_factsheet.pdf |title=Whirlpool Corporation - 100 Years at a Glance |publisher=[[Whirlpool Corporation]] |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

In 1986, Sanyo's U.S. affiliate merged with Fisher to become Sanyo Fisher (U.S.A.) Corporation (later renamed Sanyo Fisher Company). The mergers made the entire organization more efficient, but also resulted in the departure of certain key executives, including Ladd, who had first introduced the Sanyo name to the United States in the early 1970s.<ref name=SanyoHistory/>

In 1982, Sanyo started selling the MBC-1000 series of [[CP/M]] computers.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Myer|first=Edwin W. |date= 29 November 1982|title= Hardware Review: Sanyo MBC 1000 Small Business Computer|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=HjAEAAAAMBAJ&q=sanyo+computer+MBC+1000+review|magazine=InfoWorld |publisher= InfoWorld Media Group|access-date=14 Feb 2017 |page=101 }}</ref> In 1983,<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Shea|first=Tom |date= 11 July 1983|title=Sanyo Developing IBM Clone|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wi8EAAAAMBAJ&q=sanyo+computer+MBC+550+review|magazine=InfoWorld |publisher= InfoWorld Media Group|access-date=14 Feb 2017 |page=1 }}</ref>  it introduced the [[MBC-550]] PC, the lowest-cost [[IBM PC compatible]] [[personal computer]] available at the time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n9/12_Sanyo_555_small_business.php|title=Sanyo 555, small business computers. (evaluation)}}</ref> but its lack of full compatibility drove Sanyo from the market and no follow-on models were released.

===1990s corporate culture===
An article on "Sanyo Style" written in 1992 described that Sanyo utilizes an extensive socialization process for new employees, so that they will be acclimatized to Sanyo's corporate culture.<ref>J. Impoco, "Basic Training, Sanyo Style". ''U.S. News & World Report'', July 13, 1992, pp. 46–48.</ref> New employees take a five-month course during which they eat together and sleep together in accommodation. They learn everything from basic job requirements to company expectations for [[personal grooming]] and the appropriate way in which to dress for their co-workers and superiors.

Technologically, Sanyo has had good ties with [[Sony]], supporting the [[Betamax]] video format from invention until the mid-1980s (the best selling video recorder in the UK in 1983 was the Sanyo VTC5000), while producing the [[VHS]] video format at the same time for the [[Fisher Electronics|Fisher]] brand during the early 1980s, and later being an early adopter of the highly successful [[Video8]] camcorder format. More recently, though, Sanyo decided against supporting Sony's format, the [[Blu-ray Disc]], and instead gave its backing to [[Toshiba]]'s [[HD DVD]]. This was ultimately unsuccessful, however, as Sony's Blu-ray triumphed.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL1643184420080216?sp=true | work=Reuters | title=Toshiba to give up on HD DVD, end format war: source | date=February 16, 2008}}</ref>

In North America, Sanyo manufactured [[CDMA]] cellular phones exclusively for [[Sprint-Nextel|Sprint]]'s Sprint PCS brand in the United States and for Bell Mobility in Canada.

===Acquisition===
The [[2004 Chūetsu earthquake]] severely damaged Sanyo's semiconductor plant and as a result Sanyo recorded a huge financial loss for that year. The 2005 fiscal year financial results saw a 205 billion yen net income loss. The same year the company announced a restructuring plan called the Sanyo Evolution Project, launching a new corporate vision to make the corporation into an environmental company, plowing investment into strong products like [[rechargeable battery|rechargeable batteries]], solar [[photovoltaics]], [[air conditioning]], [[hybrid car]] batteries and key consumer electronics such as the [[Xacti]] camera, projectors and [[mobile phone]]s.

Sanyo posted signs of recovery after the announcement of positive operating income of 2.6 billion yen. Sanyo remains the world number one producer of rechargeable batteries. Recent product innovations in this area include the [[Eneloop]] [[Low self-discharge NiMH battery]], a "hybrid" rechargeable NiMH ([[Nickel-metal hydride battery]]) which, unlike typical NiMH cells, can be used from-the-package without an initial recharge cycle and retain a charge significantly longer than batteries using standard NiMH battery design. The Eneloop line competes against similar products such as [[Rayovac]]'s "Hybrid Rechargeable" line.

On November 24, 2006, Sanyo announced heavy losses and job cuts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20061125a1.html|title=The Japan Times - News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More|work=The Japan Times|date=November 25, 2006 |access-date=February 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091424/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20061125a1.html|archive-date=September 29, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Tomoyo Nonaka]], a former [[NHK]] anchorwoman who was appointed chairwoman of the company, stepped down in March 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2007/03/19/Sanyo-Chairwoman-Tomoyo-Nonaka-resigns/UPI-64011174315797/|title=Sanyo Chairwoman Tomoyo Nonaka resigns|work=UPI|access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref> The President, Toshimasa Iue,  also stepped down in April of that year; Seiichiro Sano was appointed to head the company effective April 2007.
In October 2007, Sanyo cancelled a 110 billion [[yen]] sale of its semiconductor business, blaming the global credit crisis for the decision and stating that after exploring its other options, it had decided to keep the business and develop it as part of its portfolio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2681706.ece |title=Sanyo calls off semiconductor sale |date=18 October 2007 |first=Leo |last=Lewis |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |access-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611191722/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2681706.ece |archive-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Sanyo M9998LU Boombox.png|alt=A Sanyo M9998LU Boombox manufactured circa 1979–80 for the European market with user customized dial and tape lights.|thumb|A Sanyo M9998LU Boombox manufactured {{Circa}} 1979-80 for the European market with user customized dial and tape lights]]
[[File:Piccadilly-Circus-Publicité-Nuit.jpg|thumb|Sanyo logo on neon signs of [[Piccadilly Circus]]]]
[[File:Sanyoevolutionproject.svg|thumb|Sanyo's three-year restructuring project]]
In 2008, Sanyo's mobile phone division was acquired by [[Kyocera]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-kyocera-merges-two-sd-divisions-cutting-36-jobs-2010apr02-story.html |title=Kyocera merges two S.D. divisions, cutting 36 jobs |date=April 2, 2010 |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref>

On November 2, 2008, Sanyo and [[Panasonic]] announced that they have agreed on the main points of a proposed buyout that would make Sanyo a subsidiary of Panasonic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-02 |title=Sanyo head agrees to Panasonic takeover-sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUST269084/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=reuters.com}}</ref> They became a subsidiary of Panasonic on December 21, 2009.<ref name="dealbook">{{cite web |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Panasonic Acquires Majority of Sanyo |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/panasonic-acquires-majority-of-sanyo/ |access-date=November 22, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In 2010, Sanyo sold its semiconductor operations to [[ON Semiconductor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/2720738-sanyo-signs-366-million-deal-to-sell-semiconductor-unit-to-us-chipmaker-on/ |title=Sanyo signs $366 million deal to sell semiconductor unit to US chipmaker ON |date=15 July 2010 |work=[[Guelph Mercury Tribune]] |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

On July 29, 2010, Panasonic reached an agreement to acquire the remaining shares of [[Panasonic Electric Works]] and Sanyo shares for $9.4 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66S03820100729 |title=Panasonic buying Sanyo and other unit for $9.4 billion |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205104639/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66S03820100729 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-19 |title=Panasonic to buy Sanyo in $9 billion deal |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28310493 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

By March 2012, parent company Panasonic plans to terminate the Sanyo brand, however it will remain on some of the products where the Sanyo brand still holds value to consumers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://japantoday.com/category/business/view/brand-name-of-sanyo-to-be-basically-terminated-in-april-2012 |title=Sanyo Electric brand to end in '12 |date=October 24, 2010 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |access-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208015407/https://japantoday.com/category/business/brand-name-of-sanyo-to-be-basically-terminated-in-april-2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the same month, Sanyo's Southeast Asian unit, responsible for the manufacturing of consumer electric appliances in the region, was announced to be formally acquired by [[Haier]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haier.com/my/about-haier/news/20190604_74016.shtml |title=Haier Completes Sanyo Acquisition in Southeast Asia |date=March 30, 2012 |work=Official Haier website (Malaysia) |access-date=December 28, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705104921/https://www.haier.com/my/about-haier/news/20190604_74016.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2013, a 51% majority stake in Chinese company Hefei Royalstar Sanyo, a 2000 joint venture between Sanyo and Chinese government investment company Hefei, was purchased by American multinational manufacturer [[Whirlpool Corporation]] for $552 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-whirlpool-china-idUSBRE97C0AX20130813 |title=Whirlpool buys 51 percent stake in China appliance maker |first1=Rohit |last1=T. K. |first2=James B. |last2=Kelleher |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=August 13, 2013}}</ref>

==Energy==

===Solar cells and plants===
[[File:Eneloop Rechargeable LED Lantern.jpg|thumb|"Eneloop" Rechargeable LED Lantern (ENL-1EX) by Sanyo]]
The Sanyo HIT ([[Heterojunction]] with [[Intrinsic semiconductor|Intrinsic]] [[Thin-film solar cell|Thin layer]]) solar cell is composed of a mono thin crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin [[amorphous silicon]] layers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-26 |title=SANYO & Nippon Oil Establish Thin-film Solar Cell Joint Company |url=https://eepower.com/news/sanyo-nippon-oil-establish-thin-film-solar-cell-joint-company/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=eepower.com}}</ref>

Sanyo Energy opened its [[solar module]] assembly plants in [[Hungary]] and in [[Mexico]] in 2004, and in 2006 it produced solar modules worth $213 million.  In 2007, Sanyo completed a new unit at its solar module plant in Hungary that was to triple its annual capacity to 720,000 units in 2008.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sanyo Hungary completes new plant, set to triple output, start new project - BBJ |url=https://bbj.hu/economy/environment/recycling/sanyo-hungary-completes-new-plant-set-to-triple-output-start-new-project7551 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=BBJ.hu |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:HIT cell.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Schematics of a HIT-cell]]

Plans to expand production were based on rising demands for Sanyo Hungary products, whose leading markets are [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]] and [[Scandinavia]].  The plant at [[Dorog]], outside [[Budapest]], became Sanyo's largest solar module production facility in the world.

In late September 2008, Sanyo announced its decision to build a manufacturing plant for solar [[ingot]]s and [[wafer (electronics)|wafer]]s (the building blocks for silicon solar cells) in [[Inagi]], Japan. The plant began operating in October 2009 and was to reach its full production capacity of 70 megawatts (MW) of [[solar wafer]]s per year by April 2010. Sanyo and [[Nippon Oil]] decided to launch a joint company, known as Sanyo Eneos Solar Co., Ltd., for the production and sale of [[thin-film solar panel]]s. The new joint company began production and sales at an initial scale of 80&nbsp;MW, while gradually increasing its production capacity. For this joint project, Sanyo drew on its solar cell technologies, based on the technology acquired through the development of the HIT solar cell.<ref name=":1" />

Sanyo is also responsible for the construction of the [[Solar Ark]].

===Rechargeable batteries===
Sanyo pioneered the production of [[nickel cadmium batteries]] in 1964, [[nickel metal hydride battery|nickel metal hydride batteries]] (NiMh) in 1990, [[Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] in 1994, and [[lithium polymer batteries]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/06/03/business/sanyo-charging-ahead-in-cell-phone-battery-sector/ |title=Sanyo charging ahead in cell phone battery sector |date=June 3, 2003 |first=Yuji |last=Utsunomiya |work=[[The Japan Times]] |access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> In 2000, it acquired [[Toshiba]]'s NiMh business, including the [[Takasaki]] factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://powerpulse.net/sanyo-to-acquire-toshiba-nickel-metal-hydride-battery-assets/ |title=Sanyo to Acquire Toshiba Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Assets |date=November 28, 2000 |website=PowerPulse.net |access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> Since the acquisition of Sanyo by Panasonic, ownership of the Takasaki factory was transferred to the FDK Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fdk.com/whatsnew-e/release091028b-e.pdf |title=Announcement of basic agreement concerning the transfer of shares of SANYO Energy Twicell Co., Ltd. and SANYO Energy Tottori Co., Ltd. to FDK Corporation |date=October 28, 2009 |publisher=FDK Corporation |access-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-11-24 |title=FTC Order Sets Conditions for Panasonic's Acquisition of Sanyo |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2009/11/ftc-order-sets-conditions-panasonics-acquisition-sanyo |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Federal Trade Commission |language=en}}</ref>

===Electric vehicle batteries===
Sanyo supplies NiMh batteries to [[Honda]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Volkswagen]] and [[Groupe PSA|PSA Peugeot Citroen]]. Sanyo is developing NiMH batteries for hybrid electric vehicles with the Volkswagen group, while their lithium-ion batteries for plug-in HEV will also be housed in [[Suzuki]] fleet vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/sanyo-completes-construction-lithium-ion-battery-facility-japan-248102 |title=Sanyo completes construction of lithium-ion battery facility in Japan |date=November 23, 2010 |work=[[International Business Times]] |access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

Sanyo planned to raise monthly production of NiMH batteries for hybrid vehicles from 1 million units to up to 2.5 million by the end of fiscal 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/09/sanyo_to_more_t.html |title=Sanyo to More than Double NiMH Battery Production Based on Hybrid Demand |date=September 22, 2005 |author=BioAge Media |publisher=Green Car Congress}}</ref>

==Sanyo India==

===Televisions===
[[Panasonic]] reintroduced the Sanyo brand in [[India]], with the launch of Sanyo LED TV range on August 8, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/japanese-company-sanyo-enters-india-with-affordable-tv-sets/344918/ |title=Japanese company Sanyo enters India with affordable TV sets |date=August 11, 2016 |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |access-date=August 11, 2016}}</ref> On July 11, 2017, Sanyo launched its range of [[smart TV]]s on [[Amazon Prime Day]]. In August 2017, Sanyo unveiled its NXT range of LED televisions exclusively on [[Flipkart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/launched-exclusively-on-amazon-last-year-japanese-tv-brand-sanyo-tv-now-signs-flipkart/59987944 |title=Launched exclusively on Amazon last year, Japanese TV brand Sanyo TV now signs Flipkart |date=August 9, 2017 |first=Sharmila |last=Das |work=[[The Economic Times|ETRetail.com]] |access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> In December 2017, Sanyo introduced its first 4K smart TV range in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themobileindian.com/news/sanyo-launches-its-first-4k-smart-tv-series-in-india-starting-at-rs-64990-20101 |title=Sanyo launches its first 4K Smart TV series in India, starting at Rs 64,990 |date=December 6, 2017 |work=The Mobile Indian |access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2019, Sanyo introduced a range of [[Android TV]] sets known as the Sanyo Kaizen Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Panasonic's online brand Sanyo launches new Kaizen TV series powered by Android TV - Panasonic India |url=https://www.panasonic.com/in/corporate/news/articles/panasonic-s-online-brand-sanyo-launches-new-kaizen-tv-series-powered-by-android-tv.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=www.panasonic.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Air conditioners===
Sanyo worked with [[Energy Efficiency Services Limited]] to develop a 1.5-ton [[Power inverter|inverter air conditioner]] (AC) with an Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) of 5.2. Distribution of these air conditioners began in September 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/durables/panasonic-emerges-as-lowest-bidder-for-eesls-super-efficient-acs/articleshow/58813834.cms |title=Panasonic emerges as lowest bidder for EESL's super-efficient ACs |date=May 24, 2017 |first=Debjoy |last=Sengupta |work=[[The Economic Times]] |access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

On April 4, 2019, Sanyo launched a new AC range exclusively on [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/panasonic-eyes-10-pc-market-share-of-online-ac-sales-with-brand-sanyo/articleshow/68725917.cms |title=Panasonic eyes 10 pc market share of online AC sales with brand Sanyo |date=April 4, 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/sanyo-launches-duo-cool-inverter-acs-in-india-price-starts-rs-24490/articleshow/68718748.cms |title=Sanyo launches Duo Cool inverter ACs in India, price starts Rs 24,490 |date=April 4, 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>

==Sanyo TV USA==
Though founded in Japan, Sanyo has sold TVs in America for over 50 years; Sanyo TV USA was headquartered in [[San Diego]], [[California]] with facilities located in [[Tijuana]], Mexico.

Many of Sanyo's television sets offer [[Mobile High-Definition Link|MHL]] compatibility along with [[Roku]]-ready branding via [[HDMI]], meaning the TVs are compatible with Roku's MHL-specific streaming stick. Sometimes included with purchase, such as with the Sanyo FVF5044,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2458935,00.asp |title=Sanyo FVF5044 |last=Greenwald |first=Will |date=June 17, 2014 |magazine=[[PC Magazine|PCMag]] |access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref> this stick enables video streaming and other online functions as an affordable alternative to certain smart TVs; the TV's original remote is capable of browsing the service. Multiple models also have USB ports which allow for immediate photo sharing directly off the stick without any additional software/upgrades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/sanyo-introduces-65-inch-lcd-tv-for-998/ |title=Sanyo introduces 65-inch LCD TV for $998 |last=Katzmaier |first=David |date=April 22, 2014 |work=[[CNET]] |access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

=== Funai Era ===
In October 2014, Panasonic announced its intent to transfer the Sanyo TV unit to [[Funai]] in the US market in return for annual [[Royalty payment|royalty payments.]] [[Funai]] is a major [[Walmart]] supplier that also supplies [[Philips]] and [[Emerson Radio|Emerson]] TV sets to the retail chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panasonic-tv/panasonic-says-to-transfer-sanyo-tv-unit-in-u-s-to-funai-electric-idUSKCN0IF03B20141026 |title=Panasonic says to transfer Sanyo TV unit in U.S. to Funai Electric |date=October 26, 2014 |first1=Reiji |last1=Murai |first2=Tim |last2=Kelly |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref> [[Consumer Reports]] commented in 2018 that Sanyo TVs "seem to turn up mostly in Walmart stores, almost as a private label for the retailer."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.consumerreports.org/lcd-led-oled-tvs/tv-brands-arent-always-what-they-seem/ |title=TV Brands Aren't Always What They Seem |last=Willcox |first=James |date=July 9, 2018 |publisher=[[Consumer Reports]] |access-date=April 15, 2019 |quote=Two years ago, Panasonic agreed to license the Sanyo TV brand to Funai. Today, Sanyo TVs seem to turn up mostly in Walmart stores, almost as a private label for the retailer.}}</ref>

==Confusion with Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd.==
Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (三洋電機株式会社,) is not affiliated with Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd (山洋電気株式会社), which makes high speed, large [[airflow]], high [[static pressure]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[Fan (machine)|fans]] sold under the moniker "San Ace", a product line mainly geared towards the enterprise market.

==Sponsorship==
Sanyo was the primary sponsor of the [[Penrith Panthers]] in the [[National Rugby League]] in [[Australia]] from 2000 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/sanyo-and-nrl-s-panthers-split |title=Sanyo and NRL's Panthers split |date=October 27, 2011 |first=Wenlei |last=Ma |work=AdNews |access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref> In [[Formula One]], the company sponsored [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] from 1989 to 1995, [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]] from 1995 to 1997 and [[Stewart Grand Prix]] from 1997 to 1999. In [[Association football|football]], the company sponsored the [[Argentina|Argentinian]] club [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] from 1992 until 1995 and the [[Brazil]]ian [[Coritiba Foot Ball Club|Coritiba]] from 1995 until 1999.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/profile/group-companies/sanyo.html Sanyo information on Panasonic website]

{{Japanese Electronics Industry}}
{{Panasonic}}
{{Home appliance brands}}
{{Authority control}}

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