DENSO Partners with Innovation Platform Plug and Play to Advance the Future of Mobility

- Partnership gives DENSO exclusive access to high-quality startups focused on autonomous vehicles, connectivity, shared economy, and electrification -

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DENSO

Jul 17, 2018, 09:07 ET

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO, one of the world's largest automotive suppliers of technology and components, is committed to collaborating with outside companies, universities, and research institutions to further the advancement of new and future mobility services. To that end, DENSO today announced its Silicon Valley office's partnership with Plug and Play, the world's largest innovation platform. DENSO joins 40 other automotive players, including Ford, Bosch, Nissan, and Toyota Financial Services, as corporate partners in Plug and Play's Mobility Program.

"While we've been more self-sufficient in the past, DENSO is embracing open innovation to bolster our technology portfolio to keep pace with the rapid changes in the automotive industry," said Bill Foy, senior vice president of Engineering at DENSO's North American headquarters. "We're thrilled to join the Plug and Play platform, so we can strategically evaluate new partners and opportunities that allow us to quickly and flexibly develop unique solutions that meet the needs of our customers."

DENSO looks to partner with startups that provide a necessary automotive solution or innovative technology with potentially significant implications for the future of transportation. Specifically, the company will work with Plug and Play's network of promising startups to accelerate its business and technology development in four core areas: connectivity, autonomous driving, shared mobility and electrification (CASE).

As a member of the Plug and Play ecosystem, DENSO will also contribute firsthand to the growth and success of the startups and entrepreneurs involved. Last year, Japan-based DENSO Corporation partnered with Plug and Play Japan.

Founded in 2006, Plug and Play now operates in 26 locations worldwide. It runs industry-specific accelerator programs that connect startups to forward-thinking corporations for business development and investment opportunities. Startups that have seen great success with the help of Plug and Play and its corporate partners include PayPal and DropBox.

"Our talented teams in DENSO's Silicon Valley and Tokyo offices are embracing open innovation and working closely alongside Plug and Play to identify and establish partnerships with already-vetted startups that can accelerate our long-term vision of creating a safe and secure future of mobility for all," said Foy.

DENSO participated in its first Plug and Play Summit on July 11, 2018, in downtown Detroit. At the all-day event, DENSO executives and other corporate partners met with 20 startups, who presented and demonstrated how their emerging technologies are impacting mobility.

About DENSO in North America
DENSO is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. With its North American headquarters located in Southfield, Michigan, DENSO employs more than 23,000 people at 28 consolidated subsidiaries and 4 affiliates across the North American region. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$10.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. For more information, go to www.denso.com/us-ca/en. Connect with DENSO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DENSOinNorthAmerica.

About DENSO Corporation
DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan has more than 220 subsidiaries in 35 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs approximately 170,000 people worldwide. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, totaled US$48.1 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.denso.com, or visit our media website at www.denso.com/global/en/news/media-center/.

About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 20 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 220 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, LendingClub, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

SOURCE DENSO