Hitachi Announces Effects of the Earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku, and its Responses (2nd Report)

17 March 2011

Tokyo, Japan, March 17, 2011 – Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / TSE:6501) today announced the following information regarding the effects on the Hitachi Group of the Earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku, which struck Northeastern Japan on March 11, and regarding the responses of Hitachi, as of March 17.

Status of Production Bases

Damage to buildings and facilities has been confirmed at Hitachi’s main production bases in Ibaraki Prefecture, including: cracks in walls; fallen ceilings, roofs, and walls; broken glasses; and fallen cabinets inside of buildings. Electric power supply is gradually being restored, however, and inspections of production facilities are currently underway. At present, there are no clear forecasts for the recovery of utilities such as water and gas, but Hitachi will continue to make the safety of its employees the first priority, and will work toward resuming operations as quickly as possible, while closely monitoring the recovery of essential infrastructure.

At Hitachi Appliances, Inc.’s Tochigi Works (Tochigi-shi, Tochigi Prefecture), which produces room air conditioners and refrigerators, production of room air conditioners and others resumed today (March 17), with the exception of tentative interruption due to the planned suspension of electric power supply. Regular operations also resumed today at Hitachi’s main production bases in Kanagawa Prefecture, which produce information and telecommunications system related products, and full production of dry cell batteries has resumed at Hitachi Maxell Ltd.’s Osaka Works (Ibaraki-shi, Osaka).

Main production bases where damages to buildings and production facilities have been confirmed

• Hitachi, Ltd. Power Systems Company, Hitachi Works (Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Pref.)
• Hitachi, Ltd. Urban Planning and Development Systems Company, Mito Works (Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref.)
• Hitachi, Ltd. Information & Control Systems Company, Omika Works (Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Pref.)
• Hitachi Appliances, Inc., Taga Office (Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Pref.)
• Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., Sawa Works (Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref.)
• Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., Fukushima Works (Date-gun, Fukushima Pref.)
• Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Mobara Works (Mobara-shi, Chiba Pref.)

Status of Employees

Hitachi will continue confirming the status of Hitachi Group employees and their families who have been affected by the disaster.

Established Emergency Headquarters for Response to the Tohoku Earthquake

On March 11, the date on which the earthquake took place, a Hitachi Group Emergency Headquarters for Response to the Tohoku Earthquake, led by President Nakanishi, was established at the Hitachi, Ltd. Head Office in Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo. This Emergency Headquarters will manage activities aimed at providing support to affected regions and customers; gathering information on losses and damages suffered by employees and their families, and by Hitachi’s various bases of operations; and investigating and implementing appropriate countermeasures.

Assistance at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station of TEPCO

A 24-hour emergency response center has been established at the Hitachi, Ltd. Head Office to assist in repair and recovery operations at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station. Engineers have been dispatched from Hitachi to work on joint teams formed in collaboration with Tokyo Electric Power Co. and the Japanese government. Hitachi is also assisting in the procurement of materials required for on-site operations, and is providing support for work efforts. Hitachi will continue to offer its full cooperation and rapid response to requests from related agencies.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2009 (ended March 31, 2010) consolidated revenues totaled 8,968 billion yen ($96.4 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

Contacts

Japan

Masanao Sato
Hitachi, Ltd.
+81-3-5208-9324
masanao.sato.sz@hitachi.com

U.S.

Mickey Takeuchi
Hitachi America, Ltd.
+1-914-333-2987
masayuki.takeuchi@hal.hitachi.com