• HP Starts Making Notebooks – In Japan

    Serkan Toto

    Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

    Thursday, August 25th, 2011
    hp japan

    HP caused a major splash (not only) in the technology world when the world’s biggest computer maker last week announced it plans to spin off its PC business. But one country, which has always been a unique market for many companies, is apparently getting a special treatment: Japan.

    We reported back in June that HP will move over part of the production for notebooks from China to Japan, and it looks like the company’s decision from last week didn’t affect the plan. Today, HP actually started manufacturing these devices in its plant in Akishima, Tokyo.

    During a press conference, Takafumi Oka, VP at HP Japan, said that he thinks pulling the plug on the computer business would be a mistake on his company’s part and that HP should look into other options instead.

    So far, the plant has been used for the production of desktop PCs. The notebooks are initially intended for sale to domestic businesses, followed by models for the general consumer market to be produced by the end of this year. The aim is to slash delivery time by about 50% to five days.

    At the moment, HP is producing most of its computers and related products in China.

    Via PC Watch [JP]