Global automotive supplier DENSO celebrated the grand opening of its newest plant in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico, on May 28. This facility, which is the third plant for DENSO Mexico S.A. de C.V. (DNMX) and part of DENSO’s growing North American regional presence, will employ more than 850 people and represents an overall investment of nearly $108.4 million.
“We’re excited about this facility and the new opportunities that go along with the expansion,” said Hikaru Sugi,” president and CEO of DENSO International America. “DENSO has been in Mexico since 1994, when we opened our Apodaca City facility. With the newest development, we’re able to manufacture and supply products in close proximity to our customers in this region.”
This 56,200-square meter facility will produce alternators, radiators and washer systems, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. Currently, DNMX produces instrument clusters, climate control panels and engine control components, such as variable cam timing and oil control valves, at the other two facilities in Nuevo Leon state.
The announcement came one day after DENSO announced it is expanding its Silicon Valley, Calif., office to further support and promote startup companies and advanced research and development activities in multiple areas of technological innovation. DENSO plans to grow its “think tank” steadily over the next three years.
Key focus areas will be cyber security, big data and autonomous driving. DENSO currently is targeting to hire researchers and developers with advanced degrees in software and systems engineering.
“Our intention is to leverage the creative talent in Silicon Valley to quickly bring new technologies to the automotive industry. To do that, we need some of our advanced R&D facilities to be located where the expertise lies,” said Roger Berg, vice president of North American Research and Development for DENSO International America’s Silicon Valley office. “The accelerated pace of technology development means taking a different approach to innovation rather than the traditional process of making incremental improvements to existing products. The idea of “think big, execute quickly and readily adapt” will help lead us to rapid innovations for our customers.”
Also, as part of its substantial innovation efforts, DENSO has created a dedicated team in the Silicon Valley office that will aggressively pursue investments into entrepreneurs and startup companies. Not only will DENSO be investing in automotive technologies, but also startups pursuing unique solutions in key non-automotive sectors, such as health and medical, security, power storage, electric mobility, sensors and biotechnology.
“Over the next 20 years, the nature of the automobile will undergo a revolutionary change. DENSO is committed to supporting, and investing in new advanced technologies that will become the foundation of the next generation automobile,” said Tony Cannestra, Director of Innovation for DENSO International America’s Silicon Valley office. “We believe that many of those technologies will be created in startup companies by innovative entrepreneurs focused on bringing advancements to the market quickly, and DENSO intends to support those startups through investment and strategic partnerships.”
DENSO first opened its Silicon Valley office in 2011, with the dual intention of strengthening and growing its core automotive business and to also discover and promote unique non-automotive technologies the company can deploy to expand its business into new markets.
The California investment is part of DENSO’s expansion plan to invest nearly $1 billion and create more than 2,000 jobs in North America from 2012 - 2016.
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