HP, Lenovo turn to "Made in Japan"

The current goal of Lenovo seems to be HP!

After successively surpassing Acer and Dell to become the world’s PC’s “brother”, Lenovo’s goal now is when it will become the world’s PC boss. After Hewlett-Packard said it will move the production of notebook computers sold in Japan from China to the company's factory in Tokyo, Japan, Lenovo also indicated that it is considering moving some of its large customer-customized business PCs to Japan. All indications are that in Japan, known as the world's third-largest PC market, Lenovo and HP are brewing a war, and will be triggered.

“Made in Japan” means “We are evaluating the production of commercial PC products (including desktops and laptops) that have been customized by some of Japan’s large customers to the NEC plant.” On December 14th, Lenovo Group’s internal personnel related to “Huaxia”. Times reporter said, but consumer PCs are still produced in China.

Just two days ago Japanese media said that Lenovo is considering moving some of its PC manufacturing operations in China and elsewhere to Japan. The news quoted the speech of Milko van Duijl, senior vice president of Lenovo Group, saying that "it is very important to establish a production base close to consumers. Therefore, Lenovo will put the business model 'thinkpad' The production bases of Lenovo brand computers, such as personal user model 'ideapad', were transferred to Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, hoping to increase production efficiency through this 'wartime shift' and strengthen the influence of Lenovo's brands in Japan and increase Japanese market share. To 30%."

“We are still in the process of evaluation. We haven’t finalized yet.” The aforementioned Lenovo-related personnel further explained to this reporter that the Japanese media misreaded Lenovo’s PC production in Japan.

However, it is worth noting that in June this year, Lenovo Group’s old rival Hewlett-Packard also said that it will move the production of laptops sold in Japan from China to the company’s factory in Tokyo, Japan. Hewlett-Packard said it will increase sales by improving production efficiency and reducing product delivery time to consumers, while not affecting profitability.

Regarding HP's specific move in Japan, HP-related personnel said in an interview with the China Times reporter that the main responsibility was for the Asia Pacific region. However, as of the time of the press release, the company has not received any response from relevant personnel in the Asia Pacific region.

It is reported that HP will expand its factory in Akishima, an eastern suburb of Tokyo, Japan, and increase the total number of employees in the factory by 50% to 450 people. It is reported that HP's factory in Tokyo currently produces desktop computers. Starting in August of this year, this factory will assemble 80% of HP notebooks sold in Japan, and it will gradually increase to 100% in the future.

It is reported that the cost of labor in Japan is about four times the cost of labor in China, and HP believes that local production in Japan can reduce the normal delivery time from 10 business days to 5 business days. According to data, Hewlett-Packard ranked fifth in the Japanese PC market last year with a market share of 10%.

"There may be two reasons: First, Japan and the upstream component manufacturers are near, and second, may be related to Japan's industrial policy." For Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard's move in the Japanese market, IDC China Computer Systems Research Department Manager Wang Jiping 12 On the 15th of the month, the China Times reporter analyzed that.

From HP, there are still 5 points. According to the data released by IDC, the global market research organization in the third quarter of this year, Lenovo’s market share reached 13.7%, surpassing Dell’s 12.0%, ranking the world’s second largest for the first time, and HP’s market share was 18.1% is still in the position of market leader.

Mirko van Duiji has given a timetable: "As long as two or three years, Lenovo must exceed HP."

In fact, judging from the recent status quo of Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard, the market generally believes that Lenovo has been on the rise in the PC field. It has merged Japan’s largest PC maker NEC and acquired Germany’s third-largest PC maker Medion AG. Third, more than Dell has become the second, Lenovo has been developing rapidly this year. In contrast, although HP is still the boss on the PC, but the development prospects are worrisome, especially the PC development strategy is repeated.

The changes in HP's strategy, especially the high-level differences in the PC business, caused great turmoil to its military. Take China's Hewlett-Packard as an example. Just in early November, Zhang Yongli, general manager of China's Hewlett-Packard Information Products Group (PSG) and head of PC business, chose to leave HP. In the previous 4 months, Chen Guowei, vice president of Consumer Computer Products Division of China Hewlett-Packard Co., Ltd., had already bid farewell to HP’s joining Acer as the president of Acer’s Touch Division in China.

The general view of the market that Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard have their own moves in the Japanese market, will obviously increase the other's competitive pressure. Lenovo's joint venture with NEC has rapidly expanded in the Japanese market, while HP expects to increase its competitiveness through local production. In the face of HP's countermeasures, Lenovo clearly expects to expand the distance with Hewlett-Packard in the Japanese market. After all, Japan is the third-largest PC market in the world. Both Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard will not easily give up the competition.