Sony Europe to Establish a New Plant for LCD TV Manufacturing in Nitra, Slovakia

Sony Europe to Establish a New Plant for LCD TV Manufacturing in Nitra, Slovakia

BERLIN, Germany, September 20/PRNewswire/ --

- With an Initial Investment of 73 Million Euros (110 Oku Yen) in the New
Factory, Sony is set to Further Expand its Growing LCD TV Business in Europe

Sony Europe today announced the establishment of a new manufacturing site
for LCD TVs in Nitra, Slovakia. In view of the increasing demand for LCD TVs
in Europe, Sony is set to significantly strengthen its European manufacturing
operations to cater for the local European TV market. With an annual
production capacity of three million sets at its new plant, it is expected to
further expand the market growth of its European TV business.

Sony currently operates two manufacturing sites for LCD TVs in Europe,
i.e. Barcelona in Spain and Trnava in Slovakia. One of the key deciding
factors in favour of Nitra was the close proximity to Sony's existing plant
in Trnava in Slovakia, enabling the company to capitalize on its existing
highly skilled workforce currently employed in Trnava. After a transition
period, ensuring a smooth shift of operations, it is planned for the current
Trnava plant to discontinue its manufacturing activities for LCD TVs. On a
surface space of 400,000 m squared and building space of 60,000 m squared,
the manufacturing operations at the new factory will commence in September
2007 following its inauguration. Approximately 3,000 employees in total are
expected to work at the plant when it will have ramped up to full production.

"With 10 years of TV manufacturing experience in Trnava, Slovakia, we are
pleased to announce the establishment of our new plant in Nitra, which will
enable us to boost Sony's LCD TV business in Europe," said Katsumi Ihara,
Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation. "In addition to ensuring a
stable supply, we are confident that the new plant will play a key role in
promoting Sony's technological and design excellence as we strive to make
Sony BRAVIA the leading LCD TV brand in the market," added Ihara.

"The establishment of Sony's new plant confirms the leading advantages
that Nitra and Slovakia can offer to global companies. We are proud to have
once again won Sony's trust and commitment to continue our co-operation in
Slovakia and hope to become one of the landmarks on Sony's European
manufacturing map," commented Lubomir Jahnatek, the Minister of Economy of
the Slovak Republic.

After the establishment of the new factory in Nitra, the manufacturing
site in Barcelona will continue to manufacture LCD TVs. In their capacity as
manufacturing centres, both sites will produce LCD TV sets for the growing
market demand in both Western and Eastern Europe. In addition, the Barcelona
plant will also serve as the main technology centre for LCD TVs in Europe.

For more information, please contact:

For European Media:
Nicolas Babin, Sony Europe GmbH
Tel. +49-30-2575-5159, Email: Nicolas.Babin@eu.sony.com
Sylvia Shin, Sony Europe GmbH
Tel. +49-30-2575-5156, Email: Sylvia.Shin@eu.sony.com

For Japanese Media:
Shusuke Kanai, Sony Europe GmbH
Tel. +44-(0)7786-115086, Email: Shusuke.Kanai@eu.sony.com

Source: Sony Europe

For more information, please contact: For European Media: Nicolas Babin, Sony Europe GmbH, Tel. +49-30-2575-5159, Email: Nicolas.Babin@eu.sony.com, Sylvia Shin, Sony Europe GmbH, Tel. +49-30-2575-5156, Email:Sylvia.Shin@eu.sony.com. For Japanese Media: Shusuke Kanai, Sony Europe GmbH, Tel. +44-(0)7786-115086, Email: Shusuke.Kanai@eu.sony.com

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