Denso celebrates its 75th birthday

Denso celebrates its 75th birthday

Founded in 1949 under the name “Nippondenso”, the Japanese company established itself as an international Tier 1 automotive supplier and provider of thermal, drive, mobility, electrification and electronic systems. For automobile and other manufacturers, Denso is now the second largest parts and systems provider in the world, measured by sales. The global Fortune 500 company has a diverse product portfolio and extensive global influence. In the coming years, the company wants to focus more on the topics of sustainability and CO2 neutrality.

In its company history, Denso brought a number of world firsts onto the market, including the world's first spark plug with a platinum electrode in 1974 and the world's first spark plug with an iridium electrode in 1997. Denso also repeatedly set standards in diesel development, for example with ceramic glow plugs, high-pressure common rail injection systems and the invention of the exhaust gas recirculation valve. Other areas in which Denso created numerous world firsts include air conditioning systems, aggregates, electronic sensors as well as the first flat blades and hybrid wiper blades for the aftermarket. One of Denso's most notable inventions is the QR code. The revolutionary technology developed by Denso in 1994 is now commonplace in every industry and field and used by people around the world.

Today, Denso is in an exciting phase of its history as it evolves from a “Tier 1 supplier supporting the automotive industry” to a “Tier 1 supplier supporting a mobility-focused society,” thereby creating value for even more diverse customer segments. Richard Rybacek, Senior Manager IAM Sales, promises: "We will further strengthen relationships with our customers by opening new digital communication channels that make it easier for workshops and end users to expand their expertise in automotive parts. In this way, we want to help reduce problems when installing parts." Commenting on the situation in the European aftermarket, Rybacek says: “As the current transformation fuels electrification, ADAS and other technological developments such as increased software repairs and over-the-air updates, we are paying attention to the impact this will have on our partners and planning strategic ways to support them on this journey.”

Thomas Bosman, Director and Deputy Head of EU Aftermarket & Industrial Solutions explains: "Denso's mission is to contribute to a better world. We want to support society's transformation towards green, safe and worry-free mobility. A carbon-neutral technology such as hydrogen technology will have an enormous positive impact on the world and people's well-being, but also on urban air mobility, a project that has the potential to change the dynamics of personal transport. Shinnosuke Hayashi, President and COO of Denso, had already announced at its first public appearance in Europe at the IAA Mobility in September 2023 that the company wants to invest 63 billion euros in research and development over the next ten years in order to achieve the goal of zero emissions and zero traffic deaths in mobility and society.