Quasar (brand) - in The Media

In The Media

A 1992 episode of Frontline, the PBS news program, claims that the Matsushita acquisition of Motorola's Consumer Division was the beginning of the downfall of the US television industry. The program claimed that Matsushita's acquisition was nothing more than a ruse designed for Japanese-made sets, and sets assembled of Japanese parts, to avoid tariffs, with sets under the Quasar brand still being considered "domestically made", although Quasar's United States-based engineering, management and manufacturing division was being scaled-down.

In the late 70s Quasar Company was established as a sales operation, with Matsushita Electric doing the manufacturing, in Franklin Park, Illinois. The latter manufactured both television receivers and microwave ovens.

In 1989, Richard Kraft, former President of Matsushita Electric, became the first American President of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, Quasar's parent company.

As of 2005, the Quasar name has limited use in North America, either being affixed to discontinued products from the Panasonic line or more value-oriented products than Matsushita's Panasonic brand, being sold in such places such as drug stores and supermarkets. It was rumored that Matsushita planned to discontinue the Quasar brand. Quasar Company ceased to exist in 2004.