Japanese auto supply giant Denso is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $1 billion investment in its Maryville, Tennessee location.
The investment is part of Denso’s commitment to advancing automotive innovation in North America, and will significantly increase the role North America plays in the global trend toward vehicle safety and electrification.
“This is an investment in the future of Denso, and also the future of transportation,” Kenichiro Ito, the chairman of Denso North America, said in a statement. “We are seeing dramatic shifts in the role of transportation in society, and this investment will help position us to meet those changing demands.”
Denso has been developing its roadmap for future mobility for the past three years, including determining the best location to establish its North American manufacturing hub. Denso will create more than 1,000 jobs in Maryville, Tennessee to make it a primary manufacturing center in North America for electrification and safety systems.
The company plans to expand several production lines to produce advanced components for hybrid and electric vehicles. The products are designed to improve fuel efficiency and preserve electric power by recovering and recycling energy. They also will improve efficiency for the entire vehicle by anticipating road conditions through data collected inside and outside the car.
Globally, Denso is a leading developer of electrification systems for environmentally-friendly automobiles, sophisticated functions involved in vehicle safety and security, and new services that connect vehicles and society. These systems will play a crucial role in meeting increasing electric vehicle demand.
Denso last month announced a partnership with Toyota and Mazda to develop electric vehicles.
