Matsushita’s shareholders have given their approval to change the company’s name to Panasonic Corporation as from 1 October 2008.

When it was first established in 1918 the company was known as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works was established in 1918 and the name subsequently changed to Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Works in 1929. The company has been using the name Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. since its incorporation as a joint stock corporation in 1935.

While the company used the National (for home appliances and housing equipment) and Panasonic (professional broadcast equipment) brand names over a long period, it decided in 2003 to unify its global brand to Panasonic with the brand slogan "Panasonic ideas for life." Now finally, the three different names of Matsushita, National, and Panasonic will be known under the single umbrella name of Panasonic.

The brand changeover from National to Panasonic will be phased in across Japan as from 1 October 2008 and is expected to be complete within the fiscal year ending March 2010.