Mitsubishi Electric to End Cellphone Sales in China

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Feb. 27–TOKYO — Mitsubishi Electric Corp. will pull the plug on overseas sales of mobile phones by discontinuing sales in China caught in intensifying price-cutting competition, company officials said Monday.

Mitsubishi Electric hopes to turn around its money-losing mobile phone business by concentrating on the domestic market, they said.

To end marketing operations in the Chinese market, Mitsubishi will close the sales offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou of its Chinese joint venture, Mitsubishi Soyea Mobile Communication Equipment Co., at the end of March.

Based in Hangzhou, Mitsubishi Soyea will continue production of cellphones at its plant in the city, including those for the Japanese market.

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