Mitsubishi plans job cuts

Mitsubishi Electric of Japan today announced a restructuring that will result in layoffs.

A spokeswoman said the electronics giant had not yet determined how many workers will lose their jobs. That figure might not be available until year-end. The reorganization is scheduled to be completed by March 1999.

As part of the cutbacks, Mitsubishi said it will close its U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Electric America, and open an Americas Corporate Office instead. The Americas Corporate Office will be responsible for representing Mitsubishi's businesses in North and South America.

In addition, the company will close the audio-visual division of Mitsubishi Consumer Electronics America and open a new digital consumer electronics company.

Mitsubishi also said it will close Astronet and its Cellular Mobile Telephone division and set up similar operations within Mitsubishi Wireless Communications of Duluth, Georgia.