DENSO Helps Develop Next Generation of Mobility Talent Through EcoCAR Innovation Challenge

DENSO contributes technology, expertise and funding to support hands-on learning and workforce development in emerging mobility technologies

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, is sponsoring the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a four-year collegiate engineering competition that prepares students to become future leaders in mobility, technology and innovation. Through its sponsorship, DENSO is providing advanced radar sensors, engineering volunteer support and financial contributions to help students gain hands-on experience solving real-world automotive challenges.

Managed by Argonne National Laboratory as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions program, the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge brings together 20 university teams from across North America. Students apply advanced engineering, super intelligence and entrepreneurial thinking to develop innovative mobility solutions while building the technical and professional skills needed for future careers.

"DENSO is committed to creating safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility while helping develop the next generation of engineers and technology leaders," said Mike Murzyn, leader of DENSO's North America Peace of Mind business group. "EcoCAR gives students the opportunity to work on real-world technologies, collaborate with industry experts and solve meaningful engineering challenges. We're proud to support a program that helps build the technical talent, creativity and leadership needed to shape the future of mobility."

As part of its commitment, DENSO is donating advanced radar sensing technology to support vehicle development activities within the competition. DENSO has decades of experience developing sensing technologies that help enable advanced driver assistance systems and safer mobility solutions. By providing students with access to industry-relevant technologies, the company is helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world engineering applications.

The competition challenges students to develop advanced vehicle technologies across areas such as connected and automated vehicles, battery systems, powertrain development, innovation and entrepreneurship. Through collaboration with industry sponsors and technical experts, participants gain experience that extends beyond engineering fundamentals to include project management, communication and commercialization skills.

For more than 10 years, DENSO has supported Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions as part of its commitment to developing future talent and advancing safer, more sustainable mobility. Outside of EcoCAR, DENSO has been a longtime supporter of STEM education and talent development initiatives across North America, contributing to university programs, skilled trades and other areas vital to helping the technical leaders of tomorrow grow their skills. 

About DENSO
Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a 7,540.0 billion yen (US$47.2 billion) leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 170 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company's 155,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 9.2 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. For more information about DENSO's operations worldwide, visit  https://www.denso.com/global/en/.

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 23,000+ team members across more than 40 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, DENSO in North America generated $12.7 billion in consolidated sales. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

About EcoCAR Innovation Challenge
The EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is a U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition managed by Argonne National Laboratory. The program challenges university teams to apply cutting-edge engineering to real vehicles while developing the technical, leadership, and project management skills needed for careers in automotive engineering, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.

For information about the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, visit https://avtcseries.org/.

SOURCE DENSO