Pioneer Corporation

Infobox_Company |DVD EURO company_name = Pioneer Corporation
_ja. パイオニア株式会社
company_
company_type = Public K.K. (tyo|6773)
slogan = sound.vision.soul
foundation = Tokyo, Japan (1938)
location =
key_people = Tamio Sudo, President
industry = Consumer electronics
products = Car audio and automotive navigation systems, Televisions (CRT Lens and Plasma), PC DVD drives including PC DVD recorders, "set-top" DVD players and DVD recorders, Misc. DJ equipment
num_employees = 37,622 (Consolidated, as of March 31, 2007)
revenue = increase 797 billion Yen (March 31, 2007) [ [http://pioneer.jp/corp/profile-e/ Corporate Profile] ]
operating_income = increase12.5 billion Yen (March 31, 2007)
net_income= decrease 6.7 billion Yen (March 31, 2007)
homepage = [http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ Pioneer USA]
[http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/body.html Pioneer Europe]
[http://pioneer.jp/index.html Pioneer Japan]
[http://www.pioneer.com.au/ Pioneer Australia]
[http://www.pioneernz.co.nz/ Pioneer New Zealand]
[http://www.pioneer-latin.com/ Pioneer Latin America]
[http://pioneer.jp/group/asean/index-e.html Pioneer Asia]
[http://www.pioneer-uae.com/ Pioneer Africa/Middle East]

Pioneer played a role in the development of interactive cable TV, the Laser Disc player, the first automotive Compact Disc player, the first detachable face car stereo, Supertuner technology, DVD and DVD recording, plasma display, and Organic LED display (OLED). The company works with optical disc and display technology and software products and is also a manufacturer. Sharp Corporation took a controlling stake in Pioneer in 2007. Fact|date=February 2008

On March 7, 2008, Pioneer Corp. announced that it will stop manufacturing its own plasma displays. [ [http://production.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=340817 Pioneer Details Exit From PDP Manufacturing] ] [http://pioneer.jp/press/pdf/ir/080307_restructuring-e.pdf] The likely reason being that Pioneer has not been able to turn a profit from their current plasma displays, as well as struggled to compete with rivals, such as Matsushita Co., who have better output efficiency. Pioneer will, however, continue to make plasma televisions, and is in talks with Matsushita to buy their plasma display panels and add its own processing units and other Pioneer technology. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSTKG00296020080307 Pioneer: in talks with Matsushita to buy plasma panels] ] [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0406avguy_plasmaapr06,1,4951171.story Plasma dives into deep black] ]

History

* 1937 Pioneer’s founder, Nozomu Matsumoto develops the A-8 dynamic speaker. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1938 Jan. Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho (precursor of Pioneer) is founded in Tokyo. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1947 May Fukuin Denki is incorporated. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1953 Dec. Hi-Fi Speaker PE-8 introduced. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1961 Jun. Company name changed to Pioneer Electronic Corporation (now Pioneer Corporation). Fact|date=February 2008
* 1961 Oct. Shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1962 Jun. Introduces the world’s first separate stereo system. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1966 Mar. Establishes sales companies in Europe and the U.S. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1968 Feb. Shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1968 Apr. Shares are listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1969 Feb. Shares are listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (now Euronext Amsterdam). U.S. GAAP consolidated financial reporting starts Fact|date=February 2008
* 1975 Nov. Introduces the world’s first component car stereo. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1976 Hi-Fi Speaker HPM-100 introduced. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1976 Dec. Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1977 Dec. Introduces the world’s first two-way addressable CATV system in the U.S. (with Warner Cable). Fact|date=February 2008
* 1978 Introduces SX-1980 receiver, Pioneer's most powerful receiver manufactured to date. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1979 Feb. Introduces the industry-use Laserdisc player. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1980 Jun. Introduces VP-1000 LD player for home use in the U.S. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1981 Oct. Introduces LD player for home use and 70 LD software titles in Japan. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1982 Oct. Introduces the LD Karaoke system for business use. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1982 Nov. Introduces CD player. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1984 Sep. Introduces the world’s first LD combination player compatible with CDs and LDs. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1984 Oct. Releases the world’s first car CD player. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1985 Dec. Introduces the 40-inch projection monitor. Fact|date=February 2008 [40-inch Projection Monitor has been seen in Switzerland on second hand sale.]
* 1990 Jun. Introduces the world’s first CD-based GPS automotive navigation system. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1992 Oct. Introduces the world’s first 4x CD-ROM changer. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1996 Jun. Tokorozawa Plant earns ISO 14001 certification. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1996 Dec. Introduces DVD/CD player and the world’s first DVD/LD/CD compatible player for home use. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1997 May Starts supplying digital satellite broadcast set-top boxes in Europe. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1997 Jun. Introduces the world’s first DVD-based GPS automotive navigation system. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1997 Oct. Introduces the world’s first DVD-R drive. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1997 Nov. Introduces the world’s first OEL-equipped car audio product. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1997 Dec. Introduces the world’s first high definition 50-inch plasma display for consumer use. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1998 Jun. Introduces the world’s first DVD-based GPS automotive navigation system featuring 8.5GB dual-layered DVD disc. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1998 Oct. Introduces new corporate logo. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1999 Apr. Starts supplying digital CATV set-top boxes in the U.S. Fact|date=February 2008
* 1999 Dec. Introduces the world’s first DVD recorder compatible with the DVD-RW format. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2000 Mar. Shares of Tohoku Pioneer are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2001 Jun. Introduces hard disk-based GPS automotive navigation system. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2001 Jul. Introduces the global brand slogan “sound.vision.soul”. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2002 Nov. Introduces GPS automotive navigation system with a wireless communication module. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2002 Nov. Introduces a DVD recorder with hard disk. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2003 Mar. Introduces in the U.S. digital CATV settop boxes with high definition TV signal reception capability. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2003 Sep. Total shipment worldwide of PC-use recordable DVD drives surpasses 5 million units. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2004 Jul. Introduces the world's first DVD player for professional DJs and VJs. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2004 Sep. Transfer of NEC’s plasma display business is completed. Pioneer Plasma Display Corporation (previously NEC Plasma Display Corporation) starts operation on October 1, 2004. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2006 Jan. President Kaneo Ito and Chairman Kanya Matsumoto, son of the company's founder, leave their posts to take responsibility for the recent poor performance of the maker of DVD recorders and plasma TVs. Vice President Tamihiko Sudo was appointed new president, effective from January 1 by the board of directors. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2006 Dec. Pioneer closed its car audio division in Singapore. Fact|date=February 2008
* 2008 Jul 7. Pioneer develops 16 layer Blu - Ray disc capable of storing 400 GB. [http://pioneer.jp/press/release193.html]

Brands

* Pioneer — home and car electronics
* Pioneer Elite produces electronics that are usually higher in price and quality. Most Pioneer Elite branded electronics have the gloss black "Urushi" finish.: Pioneer Elite products include Laserdisc players, CD players, DVD players, plasma computer monitors and televisions, and rear-projection televisions. Pioneer Elite debuted their first Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-HD1.whenFact|date=December 2007. Pioneer released the first 1080p plasma display,Fact|date=December 2007 the PRO-FHD1.: Pioneer has recentlywhen released the Kuro line of plasma displays, that the company claimsFact|date=December 2007 has the best black levels of any flat panel display. Kuro means black in Japanese.Fact|date=December 2007
* Carrozzeria (Japan only) — car electronics
* Pioneer Premier (North America only) — high-end car electronics
* TAD — high-end speakers
* Pioneer PRO DJ — DJ equipment

See also

* Car audio
* CDJ
* Automotive navigation system
* List of Japanese companies
* Geneon (formerly Pioneer LDC, the multimedia production arm of Pioneer Corporation)
* DVJ-X1

References

* Pioneer HPM-100, Advertisement. 1976: 1-4.
* 40-inch Projection Monitor has been seen in Switzerland on second hand sale.

External links

* [http://pioneer.jp/index-e.html Pioneer Corporation (Japan)]
* [http://www.pioneer.eu/ Pioneer Europe N.V. (Regional Headquarters)]
* [http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.]
* [http://www.pioneer.com.au/ Pioneer Corporation (Australia)]
* [http://www.pioneer-latin.com/ Pioneer Latin America S.A.]
* [http://www.pioneerisrael.co.il/ Pioneer Israel]
* [http://www.hifi-museum.com/js/pio/index.htm Pioneer Exhibit] at "The High Fidelity Museum"
* [http://akdatabase.org/Pioneer/PioneerComponentDatabase.htm Pioneer Component Database]
* [http://www.vintagecassette.com/pioneer Pioneer Cassette Decks]
* [http://www.receivers.ru/brand_181.html Pioneer. All about brand in Russia]