DENSO addresses the future at IAA Mobility 2023

In his first European public appearance as DENSO President and COO of DENSO, Shinnosuke Hayashi revealed that the business plans to invest €63 billion (¥10 trillion) in research and development over the next 10 years in line with its pursuit of zero emissions and zero traffic fatalities within mobility and society.

During his announcement at IAA Mobility 2023, a global platform for mobility, sustainability and technology that brought together original equipment manufacturers and suppliers like DENSO, as well as a wide scope of innovators, developers and service providers in mobility, Mr Hayashi highlighted the role of the wider automotive industry in tackling carbon-emissions, calling upon the sector to find collaborative solutions to make transport as a whole safer and more environmentally friendly. According to Hayashi, businesses such as DENSO have a duty to preserve the planet for future generations through the creation of advanced technologies that overcome the twin challenges of environmental pollution and traffic fatalities.

To enable the growing shift towards electric-powered engines, it was revealed that a significant package of investment would allow DENSO to develop technologies for electrification and further expand its product portfolio to accommodate the evolving needs of the mobility ecosystem. The business is therefore ramping up its global production capacity and is on track to produce around 12 million inverters per year by 2025, while consolidating its expertise within vehicle semiconductor production and thermal management systems. Advances within these areas will support improved electric vehicle functionality and range, paving the way towards greater electrification.

Mr Hayashi also reaffirmed DENSO's unwavering commitment to leading the industry in carbon neutrality. This pledge follows the recent unveiling of plans to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the company's entire supply chain by 2050. With the successful attainment of carbon neutrality (with credits) within its facilities across Japan and Europe, the company is already well on course to achieving operational carbon neutrality by 2035. Hayashi also emphasised the transformative impact of innovative technologies such as carbon capture and recycling, as well as the implementation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technologies at DENSO's Japanese facilities. Having proven their effectiveness in Asia, these technologies are poised to be introduced to a range of European facilities.

“Throughout history, human beings have pulled together to rise to significant challenges,” said Hayashi. “Against one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced, it is vital that organisations like DENSO collaborate and harmonise with partners across the globe to solve the problems facing our planet. We believe mobility has an important role to play within this journey, and wish to lead the industry in the development of new technologies and solutions to achieve safe and high-value mobility and manufacturing. We’re making huge strides in our own manufacturing activities and by doing this, we believe we can empower the entire industry to do the same, to the benefit of society over the medium and long term.”

Mr Hayashi also referenced his own personal journey within the DENSO organisation and how this has helped to inspire his vision for the company.

After joining DENSO as an engineer in 1986, he worked on the development, mass production, and global business development of the engine ECU of the world’s first fully electronic control diesel common rail system.

Over a 37-year career, he has risen through the company ranks to make an impact across the wider DENSO Group. In 2015, he was named Executive Director of DENSO Corporation, where he oversaw the development of an electronics platform for integrated control of the entire vehicle system, while also playing a lead role in business reform and new product planning within the mobility electronics field.

One year after becoming Chief Software Officer in 2020, he was promoted to Senior Executive Officer of DENSO Corporation, before being appointed as the Head of the Mobility Electronics Business Group a year later. He has since established a strong reputation for driving company-wide reforms and is a passionate advocate for the integration of software into the DENSO portfolio of products and solutions.

Further details of the DENSO Aftermarket programme are available online at: www.denso-am.eu