Japanese consumer electronics giant Panasonic announced details of its previously reported international smartphone expansion, which will see it launching products in the European market in March 2012.

In a statement, the company said that “with the mobile phone market rapidly shifting to smartphone usage worldwide and a steady growth expected particularly overseas, Panasonic aims to tap into this growth with its first global model smartphone for the European market.”

Panasonic said that following the launch of the device (prototype pictured), it intends expanding its lineup to reach 1.5 million shipments in Europe in the next fiscal year. In addition, it is targeting global smartphone sales of 15 million units in the year ended 31 March 2016, with six million delivered for Japan and nine million in Europe, Asia, China and the US.

Few details have been released of the device so far, including which platform it will use – although Android certainly seems the most likely candidate. It will have “an ultra-slim D-shaped design for easy portability;” a 4.3-inch quarter HD OLED screen; and be “waterproof and dustproof for ease of handling.”

The company said it will use an existing factory in Malaysia to manufacture its global smartphones. The same site already makes handsets for the Japanese market.