PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE'S REAR-SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM RANKS HIGHEST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, SAYS J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES STUDY

DETROIT (January 8, 2007) ― For the third straight year, Panasonic Automotive’s rear-seat entertainment system (RSE) ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Rear-Seat Entertainment Usage and Satisfaction StudySM. Consumers ranked the Panasonic systems in the Honda Pilot the highest in the industry.

More than 3,100 consumers who purchased a new vehicle with a factory-equipped rear-seat entertainment system between August 2005 and June 2006 evaluated the appearance, video screen, system operation and audio of their RSE systems. The study evaluated RSE systems in 36 vehicle models.

“Panasonic Automotive is committed to providing our customers with market-leading innovations that deliver the highest customer satisfaction,” said Vince Sarrecchia, president of Panasonic Automotive Company of America. “This honor reflects this commitment as well as the competitive advantage we bring to our OEM clients.”

In the three years J.D. Power and Associates has surveyed customer satisfaction of RSE, Panasonic Automotive has commanded the top rankings. The company has been a consistent innovator in DVD RSE systems for the OEM automobile manufacturers, commanding the largest market share for this expanding market.

PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA AND FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORP. TO COLLABORATE ON IN-VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

DETROIT (January 8, 2007) ― With the recent success of the acclaimed ELS Surround® in-car audio system under its belt, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America has formed a working agreement with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to develop custom audio systems for the automotive market.

Fender has a 60-year history of product innovation and trendsetting design of stylish guitars and amplifiers for the music industry. Even more, Fender has long been able to capture the imagination and mood of successive generations of youth involved with the music industry by producing custom, classic and vital products that are able to communicate “The Spirit of Rock and Roll®.”

The exclusive agreement provides the framework for the two powerhouses in their respective industries to work together to create customized products for the global automotive industry.

As electronics continue to play an ever-growing role in the automobile, and as more and more vehicles are equipped with increasingly advanced systems for in-car entertainment, high-end sound system suppliers to the auto industry, such as Panasonic Automotive, seek to develop products that will provide superior technology as well as communicate a passion for music and sound reproduction.

“Technology, innovation and lifestyle are key differentiators,” said Tom Dunn, marketing group manager for Panasonic Automotive Systems. “The next generation of car buyers is going to be more independent and individual in their tastes and preferences; as a group they already show a high level of brand awareness and enthusiasm for music.”

“Most audio suppliers don’t have a lifestyle associated with their products,” Dunn added, “but the Fender name does. It’s intertwined with rock, pop, country, blues and jazz musicians because Fender makes the world’s leading electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass guitars, and amplifiers that these artists play. Fender’s instruments are a “platform for creativity.” By working together with Fender, Panasonic Automotive hopes to bring a similar “platform for creativity” to the automotive market."

“We are known for creating the instruments and amplifiers for the musicians actually creating the music. Panasonic has the expertise in developing car audio equipment that reproduces those sounds as the artists intended them to be heard,” said Ritchie Fliegler senior vice president of Market Development for Fender Musical Instrument Corp. “Together, this will create a synergy that will be very powerful.”

Fliegler believes that by working with Panasonic, Fender’s legendary status in the musical instruments industry can be brought into the automotive in-car audio market to create something very special. “The chance to work with Panasonic, a leader in consumer electronics, is a wonderful opportunity to apply Fender’s expertise, passion and technology to a totally new market. Cars and guitars, it’s a classic combination.”

Dunn said that the Panasonic-Fender audio system collaboration would bring a unique identity to a carmaker’s offerings and would particularly appeal to a wide range of consumers, including youthful buyers, many of whom are musicians themselves.

Fliegler thinks that, in addition to North American customers, the global brand strength of the Panasonic and Fender car audio system will have tremendous appeal for European and Asian customers. With the Fender name and technology, the system will designate an image and level of performance that is uniquely American.

About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world's foremost manufacturer of electric guitars, amplifiers and related equipment since 1946, and its name has become synonymous with all things rock 'n' roll. Iconic Fender® instruments such as the Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known worldwide as the instruments that started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today's guitarists and collectors. FMIC markets using the brand names Fender®, Squier®, Guild®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Charvel®, SWR®, Tacoma®, Olympia® and Brand X®. Further information on FMIC can be found at the company's website, www.fender.com.

Panasonic recognized by CIO Magazine as one of the CIO 100 Award Honorees

Peachtree City, GA (August 2006) ― Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is proud to announce that Panasonic and Mr. Raj Datt are being honored as a recipient of the 2006 CIO 100 award by IDG's CIO magazine. The annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).

According to Abbie Lundberg, Editor in Chief of CIO magazine, "Year after year, the CIO 100 award recipients serve as industry role models for business and IT excellence. This year’s winners are particularly remarkable for their ability to translate IT innovation into business value and solid ROI."

"This award represents an affirmation of the hard work and dedication by both our IT and Business teams," stated Mr. Datt. "The project that we presented to CIO Magazine for consideration was a milestone for our organization. In a very short period of time we were able to complete a major upgrade to one of our major systems and give tremendous benefits back to the business. We are extremely proud that Panasonic has been recognized alongside leading names from the industry."

The 2006 CIO 100 awards will be presented Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California, on August 22 at the conclusion of the eighth annual CIO 100 Symposium® and Awards Ceremony. Please visit Panasonic's profile on the CIO website by clicking here.

About Panasonic Automotive Systems
Based in Peachtree City, Georgia, and with Detroit area operations located in Southfield, MI, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is a division of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Osaka, Japan, one of the world’s leading developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also acts as the North American operating company of Panasonic Automotive Systems Company, a division of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., which coordinates global automotive industry systems and components operations. For more information on Panasonic and Matsushita Electric, visit www.panasonic.com.

About the CIO 100
The recipients of this year's CIO 100 award were selected through a three-step process. First, companies filled out an online application form detailing their innovative practices in both business and IT. Next, teams of CIO magazine editors and writers reviewed the applications in depth, looking for unique practices and substantial results. Finally, the teams met for a day-long meeting to debate the merits of each nominee and vote on the final 100. Once the top 100 honorees were selected, several honorees were chosen to receive an additional special award.
To provide a vision of ever-changing business trends, the focus of the CIO 100 changes annually. Complete coverage of the 2006 CIO 100 awards will be in the August 15 issue of CIO magazine and available online at www.cio.com on August 15.