Panasonic Exits North American Solar, Refocuses on Core Strategic Areas

• Panasonic Corporation of North America will discontinue its solar and battery storage operations to concentrate on higher-impact businesses, while maintaining full support for existing customers and warranties.

Panasonic Corporation of North America has quietly decided to step away from its solar and battery storage operations by the end of this year, opting instead to concentrate on businesses it believes will drive stronger long-term growth. The announcement—posted on Panasonic’s website and shared with installation partners—underscores a broader effort to streamline its portfolio and invest in areas with the highest strategic payoff.

In a candid note to partners, Naoki Kamo, president of Panasonic Eco Systems North America, made it clear that the decision wasn’t rooted in any shortcomings of Panasonic’s solar technology or the dedication of its network. “We remain convinced of solar and storage’s promise,” he wrote, “but it’s simply not the most fitting avenue for our resources right now.” Importantly, Panasonic has pledged to uphold every existing warranty—covering both completed systems and those still being installed—and to continue supporting third-party warranties so customers won’t experience any service gaps.

This move brings an end to more than five decades of Panasonic’s solar pursuits in North America, which began in the 1970s under the Sanyo brand. The 2009 acquisition of Sanyo Electric Co. brought the pioneering HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) solar module into Panasonic’s fold, and by 2011 those high-efficiency panels proudly bore the Panasonic name on rooftops coast to coast.

Over the years, Panasonic hit efficiency milestones and earned a reputation for rock-solid reliability. Yet, as competition in the solar sector intensifies and new energy solutions emerge, the company decided to redeploy its talents elsewhere. Going forward, Panasonic intends to focus on cutting-edge areas such as electric-vehicle batteries, smart-building sensors, and other advanced technologies where it sees stronger alignment with its core strengths.

Existing solar customers can rest easy: Panasonic will continue routine maintenance, warranty service, and technical support until each system reaches the end of its operational life. Meanwhile, the company’s pivot reflects a clear-eyed strategy to concentrate on innovations that offer the greatest potential return—both for its bottom line and for its partners in North America.