Sony Will Close Its Audio Factory In Malaysia

Illustration (Image Credit: Kiran CK / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Sony is reported to be closing its audio factory in Malaysia. The main factor, because Sony will move it to Kuala Lumpur.

The plan, Sony will combine the two factories in Malaysia in September 2021, and close one of these factories in March 2022.

Quoting Gizmochina, Tuesday, December 8, this was reported as part of Sony's rationalization and review process. The factory is known to work on making headphones and other home audio equipment.

Meanwhile, audio production will continue from the TV manufacturing factory in Kuala Lumpur. As a result of this merger, many of the 3,600 employees at the Penang plant will reportedly be terminated. Although some of the surviving employees may be transferred to a new factory.

The closure will also affect surrounding livelihoods and end a 3-decade period from 1988. Sony also plans to close another 3-decade-old audio and TV factory in Brazil.

The company's poor performance and experiencing a 23 percent decline in 2020-2021 in the electronics segment due to COVID-19 is also the reason for the merger of this factory. In addition, the decision was also due to the fact that the sales did not reap large numbers.

It is known, when it was first founded, Sony started as a radio repair shop in Tokyo, Japan. Back then, the company was very successful in the audio category before venturing into other consumer electronics products

Sony itself is the largest manufacturer of camera sensors that are used in almost every line of smartphones. The Japanese manufacturer is also famous for its audio line, both for headphones, speakers and others.

In March, they incorporated image, audio and mobile communications solutions into the Sony Electronics Corporation.