DENSO Athens Tennessee Facility Expands Again: Company to Invest Approximately $85 million and Hire 400

-Building new Facility to Localize Fuel-saving Technology-

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Jan 28, 2015, 04:00 ET

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO is investing approximately $85 million to expand production of its gasoline direct injection (GDI) capability at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT), in Athens, Tennessee, resulting in about 400 new jobs over the next three years. The company is building a new 224,000 sq. ft. facility at its existing location and will start production in July 2016. This marks DMAT's third major investment in an 18-month period. The overall expansion effort will represent a total investment of approximately $190 million and more than 700 new jobs.

DENSO is investing approximately $85 million to expand production of its gasoline direct injection capability at DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee in Athens, Tennessee, resulting in about 400 new jobs over the next three years.

"This project is critical to support the growing need of gasoline direct injection in North America as automakers are turning to this technology to help meet fuel-efficiency and emissions regulations," said Brian Nolen, General Manager of DMAT's Gasoline Products Manufacturing Division. "The localization of gasoline direct injection technology is resulting in new jobs, new production lines, new approaches to training and new growth among our supply partners in North America."

Fueling Jobs and Powering New Lines
DMAT's recent investment has not only created new jobs for DENSO, but it has also resulted in new growth and job creation for its U.S. supply base. Last year, the Autocam Group of NN Inc., announced that it expanded production at its Marshall, Michigan location and will nearly double its employee base to produce precision-machined metal components for use in DENSO gasoline direct injection fuel systems. In addition, DENSO researched and worked with new local and global machine makers to help build the lines, including the new Machinery and Tools Division at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, in Maryville, Tennessee.

DMAT currently employs more than 1,450 employees, and has been producing fuel injectors (among other automotive components) since 1998 for the North America region. DENSO's latest generation of GDI technology is geared to deliver more power and lower emissions while being more compact. Its reliability and flexibility allows it to be used in markets around the world. For consumers, it's an overall savings at the gas pump and a satisfaction they are helping reduce impact to the environment.

About DENSO
DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions and employs nearly 140,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, totaled US$39.8 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

About DENSO in North America
Currently in North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 32 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Alabama and Arkansas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$7.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.