Canon’s business in China began in the late 1970s. From the initial technical cooperation to today's wholly-owned factory construction, it has experienced the exploration of various business models. After more than 20 years of continuous efforts, Canon now has multiple product departments in China, including cameras, copiers, printers, fax machines, scanners, and projectors. In recent years, Canon has been actively exploring new areas such as consumables and medical equipment.
In 1979, Deng Yingchao visited Canon and made a request to support China's precision industry. The following year, in 1980, the then president, Mr. Ryuzaburo Karai, paid a goodwill visit to Beijing. The exchange of visits between senior leaders of the Chinese government and Canon Co., Ltd. has taken a solid first step for Canon Co., Ltd.'s business in China, and Canon Co., Ltd.'s investment in China has officially kicked off.
Subsequently, in 1984, technical cooperation (domestic assembly and production) contracts were signed with Zhanjiang Copier Industry Company and Tianjin Copier Equipment Co., Ltd. Investment in China began in 1988 with the establishment of Beijia Information Technology Co., Ltd., a joint venture with Peking University Founder.
In 1989 and 1990, Canon invested and established large-scale wholly-owned enterprises in China - Canon Dalian Office Equipment Co., Ltd. and Canon Zhuhai Co., Ltd., both of which were 100% exported. With the mission of providing Canon products to the world market.
In 1994, the head office handed over the management of the Chinese market to Canon Hong Kong Co., Ltd. As of 1995, Canon's business in China was still limited to the production field, and it only existed as a production base of Canon.
With the growth of the Asian economy, Asia's position in Canon's business plan has become increasingly important. In 1995, Canon formulated the "10% Asia Share Plan" (this plan requires that, except for Japan, Sales in Oceania and Asia increased to 10% of total global sales). At the same time, Canon gradually realized the importance of China, a potentially huge market, and revised its long-term strategy for business development in China. In the same year, Canon International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was established as a sole proprietorship in Shanghai, and Guangdong United Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture in Dongguan. Canon International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. is a spare parts center that provides after-sales service accessories for Canon products in the Chinese market. It is located in the Pudong Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, enabling the spare parts required by the Chinese market to be supplied faster and more timely. This has changed the situation in the past that when importing spare parts through Chinese trading companies with import rights, the delivery period was long and the supply exceeded demand.
Next, in order to strengthen its strength in the Chinese market, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. was established in China in 1997. This company is a local legal person and has replaced Canon Corporation since its establishment. Responsible for all future investment business in China. In 1997, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. invested in a joint venture with Tianjin Copying Equipment Co., Ltd. to establish Tianjin Canon Co., Ltd. The original technical cooperation method was changed to direct investment and factory establishment, thus improving the production and sales system of copiers in the Chinese market.
In 1998, according to the term of the 10-year joint venture contract, the cooperation with Beijia Information Technology Co., Ltd., a joint venture with Peking University Founder (Peking University), was successfully concluded. In the same year, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. reinvested and jointly established a software development company, Beijing Beijia Information Systems Co., Ltd., which added research and development to Canon's business in China.
In 2001, Canon invested US$100 million in its first productive project in Jiangsu, the Suzhou factory, which was located in Suzhou New District. It mainly produces copiers and software. This is the largest factory Canon has invested in in the world. , which is also Canon’s largest investment in China over the past 20 years. Canon (Zhongshan) Office Equipment Co., Ltd. was also established at the same time.
In 2002, the Shanghai Branch of Canon (China) Co., Ltd. was established. Canon (China) Co., Ltd. began domestic sales of products produced by the invested companies. At this time, Canon moved its Asian marketing headquarters to Beijing.
In 2003, Canon gradually registered and established 15 companies including Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian, Jinan, Xi'an, Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Shenzhen. branches, basically forming a nationwide sales and service network. Canon product flagship exhibition hall "Canon Imaging Plaza" announced its opening in Beijing. A nationwide (except Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) unified hotline center has been established in Beijing.
In 2004, Canon Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was established in Beijing. On April 29, 2004, after friendly negotiation between the two parties of the joint venture, Beijing Beijia Information Systems Co., Ltd. changed its equity and became a wholly foreign-owned enterprise 100% invested by Canon (China) Co., Ltd., and changed its name to Canon Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., continues to bring together outstanding Chinese talents and is committed to researching and developing international-level software products. The first self-operated imported goods warehousing ceremony was held in Guangzhou. At this point, Canon (China) can directly import and sell overseas products.
In addition, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. also changed the equity of Guangdong United Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. and made additional investments in Canon Dalian and Canon Zhuhai.
To date, Canon Co., Ltd. has invested US$1 billion in China and has approximately 30,000 employees.