Johnson Controls, Inc. and Hitachi group will cooperate on air conditioning business. They will establish a joint venture in 2014, in which Hitachi Appliances, Inc's overseas air conditioning business will be incorporated. Johnson Controls will obtain a 60% ownership stake in the joint venture. The companies aim to lead the global air conditioning market.

Johnson Controls’ building system section, with around 700 locations in more than 150 countries, records building facility sales of $15 billion. Hitachi Appliances’ AC business yearly sales in Fiscal 2012 are 288.8 billion yen, having factories inside and outside Japan providing from home air conditioners to commercial ACs.

The new venture intends to become a global leader in the field of air conditioners. By integrating sales networks, factories, and R&D, the company aims to expand their sales worldwide and increase its market share. (2013/12/5)