Electronics and machinery
Sanyo 三洋電機
A rival founded by the Panasonic family
Toshio Iue, brother-in-law of Panasonic's founder, left Matsushita and started Sanyo in Osaka in 1947, making bicycle lamps. Sanyo became a major electronics maker, but after heavy losses it was taken over by Panasonic, and the brand was phased out.
- Founded
- 1947
- Shōwa 22
- Founder
- Toshio Iue
- Started in
- Osaka
- Status
- Absorbed in 2011
Timeline
-
1947 (Shōwa 22)
Iue starts making bicycle generator lamps.
-
1953 (Shōwa 28)
Launches a jet-type washing machine that sells widely.
-
2005 (Heisei 17)
Launches the Eneloop rechargeable battery.
-
2011 (Heisei 23)
Becomes a wholly owned part of Panasonic.
Years in brackets are the Japanese era year. Japanese era converter →
Did you know?
Sanyo means "three oceans": the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian, a sign of its global ambitions.
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Dates follow the companies' own published histories where available. Trademarks belong to their owners; this page is not affiliated with any company listed.