DENSO is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $1 billion investment at 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, DENSO says.

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. 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, says the company.

“This is an investment in the future of DENSO, and also the future of transportation. We are seeing dramatic shifts in the role of transportation in society, and this investment will help position us to meet those changing demands,” said Kenichiro Ito, chairman of DENSO’s North America board of directors and CEO of DENSO International America.

“Since setting roots here, DENSO has played a major role in helping Tennessee transform into an automotive production leader,” said Jack Helmboldt, member of DENSO’s North America board of directors and president of DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee. “This investment enables us to provide new opportunities for top talent to advance the next generation of vehicles.”