In his first European public appearance as president and COO of Denso, Shinnosuke Hayashi revealed that the business plans to invest €63 billion (approx. $67 billion) in research and development over the next ten years in line with its pursuit of zero emissions and zero traffic fatalities within mobility and society.
The announcement at IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany, this week 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, Denso said. According to Hayashi, businesses like Denso have a duty to preserve the planet for future generations through the creation of advanced technologies that overcome the challenges of environmental pollution and traffic fatalities.
To enable the growing shift towards electric-powered engines, Denso’s investment will allow it to develop technologies for electrification and further expand its product portfolio to accommodate the evolving needs of the mobility ecosystem. The business is 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, the company said. Advancements within these areas will support improved electric vehicle functionality and range, paving the way toward electrification.
During his speech, Hayashi reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to leading the industry in carbon-neutrality. This pledge follows the recent unveiling of plans to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entirety of the company’s supply chain by 2050. By already attaining carbon neutrality (with credits) within its facilities across Japan and Europe, the company said it is on course to achieve operational carbon neutrality by 2035.
Hayashi also emphasized the 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 in the coming times, the company said.
“Throughout history, human beings have pulled together to rise to significant challenges. Against one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced, it is vital that organizations like Denso collaborate and harmonize with partners across the globe to solve the problems facing our planet,” said Hayashi. “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, [and] we believe we can empower the entire industry to do the same, to the benefit of society over the medium and long term.”
