Exclusive: Panasonic exits chipmaking with sale to Taiwan player

US-China trade war proves last straw for money-losing business

Panasonic at CES 2019. The sale of its semiconductor business follows other moves to shed money-losing electronics production. (Photo courtesy of the company)

ITSURO FUJINO and KENSAKU IHARA, Nikkei staff writers

November 28, 2019 05:04 JST

OSAKA/TAIPEI -- Panasonic will sell its loss-making semiconductor business to Taiwan's Nuvoton Technology, Nikkei has learned, leaving an industry that it first entered in 1952 and which now faces headwinds from the U.S.-China trade war.