PDP TVs Form Centerpiece of Hitachi's Flat- Display Business

摘要

Hitachi, Ltd. entered the PDP TV market earlier than most of its competitors. The timing advantage allowed the company's 32-inch PDP TV with a built-in tuner to receive an enthusiastic reception in Japan. Based on the response, Hitachi expanded sales channels for PDP TVs in overseas markets, beginning in Europe and then in the United States, said Yoshiyuki Imoto, Managing Officer, COO & CTC & General Manager, Digital Media Division, Ubiquitous Platform Systems. Hitachi estimated that it captured about 18 percent share of the global PDP TV market in 2002. Hitachi said it has about a 7 percent share of the United States market, 6.2 percent of the European market, 7 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, and about 40 percent of the Japanese market. Industrial analysts say Hitachi is a top seller in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia as well. Hitachi forecasts worldwide market for PDP products will expand to 1.3 million units in 2003 and to 2.5 million units in 2004.