The company will abandon the Matsushita name and just go with its street name.
Panasonic, which is really called Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., will officially change its name to Panasonic starting October 1.
The name change, which may prompt calls for a holiday from copy editors, will help the company simplify its branding and messaging. The company already shifted over to the Panasonic name in the states. In Japan, it has continued to go by Matsushita, but the products are sold under the Panasonic brand. (The company's design showcase in Tokyo is also called the Panasonic Center.)
The company will also change the name of its National subsidiary, which specializes in household appliances, to Panasonic in 2010. (The National Center, chocked full of crazy household appliances like a $20,000 sleep systems, is a great place to visit. The National Center also has an
Matsushita Electric was founded in 1918 and was first known as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works. The company tinkered a bit with the name in the 20s and 30s but settled on Matsushita Electric Industrial in 1935.