In the fiscal year 2023, it generated approximately 61% of its total revenue of 9.7 trillion yen from international markets.

[11] Historically a large conglomerate active in various fields, including electric generators, consumer electronics, trains, semiconductors, computers, and nuclear reactors, Hitachi recorded a record loss of 787.3 billion yen in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

The company sold numerous unprofitable operations and ventured into new areas such as digital systems and renewable energy.

[12] Today, Hitachi's corporate activities are organised into three large sections: Digital Systems and Services, Green Energy and Mobility, and Connective Industries.

In 2000, Hitachi adopted the advertising slogan 'Inspire the Next',[15] and the corporate logo was gradually phased out as this statement was incorporated into the branding.

[23] World War II and its aftermath significantly impacted Hitachi, leading to the destruction of factories, post-war internal discord, and the removal of founder Namihei Odaira by the Allied occupation forces.

Odaira returned to the company in 1951 when the purge of key pre-war Japanese figures ended.

In 1961, Hitachi began selling fully-automated washing machines and completed its first experimental nuclear reactor.

[26] In 1977, Hitachi completed the world's first fully MOX-fuelled nuclear power station, Fugen.

This success led to the world's three largest manufacturers by revenue all being Japanese companies by 1987, amongst which Hitachi was counted.

[29] In 2001, the contactless fare card system Suica was introduced at 424 JR East stations throughout the Greater Tokyo Area.

[30] Other contactless fare card systems such as ICOCA and PASMO have been introduced throughout the country since, almost all of which are modelled after Suica and thus mutually compatible.

However, being one of the largest conglomerates in the world at the time, conflicts of interest existed across the company, making it difficult to implement fundamental solutions.

These delays in essential reforms proved detrimental when facing the 2007–2008 financial crisis and led to the record loss.

[36][37][38] From 2008 to 2018, Hitachi reduced the number of its listed group companies and consolidated subsidiaries in Japan from 22 to 4 and around 400 to 202, respectively, through restructuring and sell-offs.

[39] In March 2011, Hitachi agreed to sell its hard disk drive subsidiary, HGST, to Western Digital for a combination of cash and shares worth US$4.3 billion.

[42] In September 2012, Hitachi announced that it had invented a long-term data solution out of quartz glass that was capable of preserving information for millions of years.

[46][47] The joint venture named Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) began operations in February 2014.

[52] Hitachi is taking for 2016 an estimated ¥65 billion write-off in value of a SILEX technology laser uranium enrichment joint venture with General Electric.

[53][54] In February 2017, Hitachi and Honda announced a partnership to develop, produce and sell motors for electric vehicles.

[66][67][68][69][70] Hitachi also suspended the ABWR development by its British subsidiary Horizon Nuclear Power as it did not provide adequate "economic rationality as a private enterprise" to proceed.

[72][73][74] In March 2020, an improved version of the L0 Series SCMaglev rolling stock for the Chuo Shinkansen was introduced, marking the first magnetically levitated train manufactured by Hitachi.

[6] Hitachi's corporate activities are organised into three large sections: Digital Systems and Services, Green Energy and Mobility, and Connective Industries.

The company name "Hitachi Data Systems" (HDS) and its logo is no longer used in the market.

[90] The acquisition is intended to bridge various operational technology and industrial products that Hitachi offers by strengthening the group's software development capability as part of the broader Lumada strategy.

In the rail industry, the company is a provider of rolling stock and traction equipment to signaling, traffic management systems, and maintenance depots.

A key component of this segment is the ZeroCarbon suite, designed to enable fleet operators to transition to electric vehicles.

[95] Merged with Hitachi’s own power grid operations, the entity has become a major supplier of high-voltage direct current transmission systems.

[82][99] Although no longer a core business, Hitachi Global Life Solutions produces refrigerators, laundry machines, vacuum cleaners and other white goods.

[104] Hitachi and Honda their four auto parts affiliates and division, the latter's three keiretsu companies Showa Corporation, Keihin Corporation, and Nissin Kogyo, and the former's wholly owned Hitachi Automotive Systems, to be better equipped for the changing car market environment, frequently represented as CASE, for which they will integrate their assets to accelerate development of new technology and software.