Japanese electronics giant Toshiba said it wants to make and sell home appliances in China. The company's target is revenue of US$495m from sales of locally-made refrigerators and washing machines in 2005, but it would start local production only when foreign makers were allowed to operate in China without a local partner.
Nikkei said that the company plans to start production on leased sites in Beijing and Shanghai in 2004, but that the plants would later be relocated inland to take advantage of lower labour costs.