By 1990, NEC was the fourth largest PC manufacturer in the world.
Its semiconductor division was the world's largest semiconductor company by annual revenue from 1985 to 1992, the second largest in 1995, one of the three largest in 2000, and one of the 10 largest companies.
NEC, Japan's former largest electronics company, has largely abandoned manufacturing since the early 21st century.
NEC was ranked 463rd on the 2017 Fortune 500 list.
NEC is a member of the Sumitomo Group.
Kunihiko Iwadare and Takeshiro Maeda founded Nippon Electric Limited Partnership on August 31, 1898, using equipment they purchased from the Miyoshi Electrical Manufacturing Company.
Iwadare acted as the partner's representative;
Maeda handled the company's sales.
Western Electric, which had an interest in the Japanese telephone market, was represented by Walter Tenney Carleton.
Carlton was also responsible for the renovation of Miyoshi's premises.
It was decided that the partnership would be reorganized into a joint stock company when permitted by the agreement.
On July 17, 1899, the revised treaty between Japan and the United States came into force.
Nippon Electric Company, Limited was founded on the same day as Western Electric Company and became the first Japanese joint venture with foreign capital.
Iwadare was appointed managing director.
Ernest Clement and Carlton were appointed directors.
Maeda and Mototeru Fujii were appointed auditors.
Iwadare, Maeda and Carlton provided general management.
The company started out manufacturing, selling and servicing telephones and switches.
NEC modernized its production facilities by building the Mita plant in Mita Shikokumachi in 1901.
It was completed in December 1902.