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{{Short description|Global automotive components manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = DENSO Corporation
| logo = Denso logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| image = DENSO_Kariya_Head_Office_2013-08C.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{plainlist|
* {{TYO|6902}}
* [[TOPIX|TOPIX Core 30 Component]]}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1949|12|16}}
| location = [[Kariya, Aichi]], Japan
| key_people = Koji Arima<br>{{small|(Chairman)}}<br>Shinnosuke Hayashi<br>{{small|(President and CEO)}}
| industry = [[Automobile|Automotive]]<br>(Passenger/ [[Truck|Commercial Vehicle]]) parts
| products = 
| revenue = {{profit}}{{JPY| 5108.291 billion|link=yes}} (2018)<ref name=DENSO17>{{cite web|url=https://www.denso.com/global/en/investors/financial/highlights/|title=Financial Results }}</ref>
| operating_income = {{profit}} {{JPY| 412.676 billion|link=yes}} (2018)<ref name=DENSO17/>
| net_income = {{profit}} {{JPY| 320.561 billion|link=yes}} (2018)<ref name=DENSO17/>
| assets = {{profit}} {{JPY| 5764.417 billion|link=yes}} (2018)<ref name=DENSO17/>
| equity = {{profit}} {{JPY| 3447.082 billion|link=yes}} (2017)<ref name=DENSO17/>
| owners = [[Toyota|Toyota Motor]] (24.77%)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldenso.com/en/investors/stock/overview/index.html |title=State of Shareholders / Investors (as of Sep. 30, 2013) |publisher=Denso Corporation |access-date=2014-01-11}}</ref><br />[[Toyota Industries]] (8.72%)
| parent = [[Toyota Group]]
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''DENSO Corporation'''|株式会社デンソー|Kabushiki-Gaisha Densō}} is a global [[List of auto parts|automotive components]] manufacturer headquartered in the city of [[Kariya, Aichi|Kariya]], [[Aichi Prefecture]], Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldenso.com/en/aboutdenso/company/index.html|title=The page has been moved to a new location.|publisher=DENSO Global Website}}</ref>

After becoming independent from [[Toyota|Toyota Motor]], the company was founded as {{nihongo|Nippon Denso Co. Ltd.|日本電装株式会社|Nippon Densō Kabushiki-Gaisha}} in 1949. About 25% of the company is owned by Toyota.<ref>{{cite web|title=Principal Shareholders|url=http://www.globaldenso.com/en/investors/stock/overview/|access-date=29 April 2016|publisher=Global Denso}}</ref> Despite being a part of the [[Toyota Group]] of companies, as of the year ending March 2016, sales to the Toyota Group accounted for less than 50% of total revenue (44% of revenue originated from other car manufacturers in Japan, Germany, the U.S. and China).<ref>{{cite web|title=投資家情報｜デンソー|url=http://www.denso.co.jp/ja/investors/library/settlement/2016/files/presentation-2016_0428.pdf|publisher=www.denso.co.jp}}</ref> In 2023, DENSO was the second [[List of the largest automotive suppliers|largest auto parts supplier]] in the world.<ref name="Autonew042816">{{cite news|last1=Treece|first1=James B.|date=Apr 28, 2016|title=Denso's fiscal-year net falls 5.8%; Aisin Seiki's climbs 14%|publisher=Autonews|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20160428/OEM10/160429818/1128|access-date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2022, DENSO was listed at #278 on the [[Fortune Global 500]] list with a total revenue of $49.0 billion and 167,950 employees.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/global500/2022/search/ | title=Global 500 }}</ref>

{{asof|2021|post=,}} DENSO consisted of 200 consolidated [[subsidiary|subsidiaries]] (64 in [[Japan]], 23 in [[North America]], 32 in [[Europe]], 74 in [[Asia]], and seven in [[Oceania]] and other regions).

==Name==
The name {{nihongo|DENSO|電装|densō}} is a [[blend word]] of the [[Japanese language|Japanese]] terms for {{nihongo|"electricity"|電気|denki}} and {{nihongo|"device"|装置|sōchi}}.

==Operations==
The company develops and manufactures various auto parts, including [[Petrol engine|gasoline]] and [[diesel engine]] components, [[hybrid vehicle]] components, [[climate control]] systems, instrument clusters, [[airbag]] systems, pre-crash radar systems, and [[spark plug]]s. DENSO also develops and manufactures non-automotive components, such as household heating equipment and industrial robots. A Denso industrial robot gained wide public attention in Japan when it conducted a game of [[shogi]] against professional players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZZO68154870S4A310C1000000/|title=ロボットで「王手」 デンソー、将棋電王戦に参戦|website=nikkei.com|date=12 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDb-Zv83prU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/RDb-Zv83prU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=【第3回将棋電王戦】ロボットアームの実力！駒並べと第一手|last=ni2douga|date=14 March 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In June 2020, DENSO announced the opening of its "Electrification Innovation Center" at its plant in [[Anjō]]. The facility will support the company's development of products and technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 June 2020|title=Denso opens electrification R&D centre in Japan|url=https://www.just-auto.com/news/denso-opens-electrification-rd-centre-in-japan_id195969.aspx|access-date=July 6, 2020|work=Just-auto|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706091449/https://www.just-auto.com/news/denso-opens-electrification-rd-centre-in-japan_id195969.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Sales ===
In 2014, DENSO's global sales were distributed as follows:

* Thermal systems: 30.4%
* Powertrain control systems: 35.0%
* Electronic systems: 15.3%
* Electric systems: 9.4%
* Electric motors: 7.0%
* Other automotive products: 1.4%
* Industrial systems, consumer products: 1.1%
* Other non-automotive products: 0.4%

=== DENSO Wave ===
DENSO Wave is a subsidiary that produces automatic identification products ([[barcode reader]]s and related products), [[industrial robot]]s, and [[programmable logic controller]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corporate Outline|url=https://www.denso-wave.com/en/about/outline/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Denso Wave Inc.}}</ref> They are noted for creating the two-dimensional [[QR code]], are a member of the [[Japan Robot Association]], and support the [[ORiN]] standard.

In 1992 [[Masahiro Hara]], an engineer in the Research & Development department, was tasked with developing a new 2D code system to streamline the tracking of components used in the automotive industry. Traditional barcodes had limitations, including their low data capacity and sensitivity to damage, such as oil stains, which caused scanning errors. To overcome these challenges, Hara began researching and, in 1994, invented the [[QR code]].

Inspired by the black-and-white patterns of the Japanese strategy game [[Go (game)|Go]], the QR code can store 200 times more characters than a standard barcode and remains readable even if 30% of its surface is damaged, thanks to its [[error correction]] mechanism. Originally referred to as the "ND code" (for Nippon Denso), it was later renamed QR code, short for Quick Response, to emphasize its fast readability. The QR code was released under a free license, which allowed it to gain widespread adoption beyond the automotive sector, expanding into industries such as logistics, commerce, marketing, and healthcare. <ref>{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2024 |title=The crazy story of QR code, Masahiro Hara's interview by Konbini |website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6us-ZonVPE}}</ref>

In the early 2000s, QR codes began to be integrated into mobile phones in Japan, where they were initially used to link to websites. This marked a turning point for the global spread of the technology, further accelerated by the rise of smartphones around 2010.

By 2024, during the 30th anniversary of the QR code, Hara expressed pride in seeing his invention adopted worldwide across diverse fields, including design, healthcare, and even tattoos. He also highlighted its cultural appropriation by artists like qargo, who creatively combined QR codes with [[Lego]] bricks to produce interactive and unique portraits that tell inspiring stories. 

For his groundbreaking work, [[Masahiro Hara]] was awarded the [[European Inventor Award]] in 2014.

=== DENSO International America ===
Denso International America is the American subsidiary of Denso.

In 1970, DENSO Corporation decided to expand overseas from Kariya, Japan, to [[North America]]. DENSO Sales California, Inc., was founded in [[Hawthorne, California]], in March 1971. The company was staffed with only 12 associates, four of them being Americans. The objective of DENSO Sales California was to promote their air conditioner systems as options in Japanese-made vehicles.
	
In May 1975, DENSO Corporation opened a sales division, Denso Sales, in [[Southfield, Michigan]].
	
In September 1975, DENSO International America opened a service center in [[Cedar Falls, Iowa]]. This was opened due to an agricultural parts contract with [[John Deere]] that included [[Starter (engine)|starter motors]] and meters.
	
DENSO International America employs over 17,000 people at 38 locations between North, Central, and South America. At year end, on March 31, 2008, combined sales totaled $8.3 billion for all American locations.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us Overview &#124; DENSO International America, Inc|url=http://www.densocorp-na.com/corporate/philosophy.html|access-date=2012-03-25|publisher=Densocorp-na.com}}</ref><ref>Proud Past, Strong Future: A History of DENSO’s First 50 Years (pg. 112-115)</ref>

==Motorsports==
[[File:2003 Toyota DENSO SARD Supra (JGTC) No.39 at Sepang Intl. Circuit, Malaysia.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Toyota Denso SARD Supra]]
As Denso is a part of the Toyota Group, it also assists Toyota in participating and developing their cars for different [[motorsport]]s categories. Denso manufactures customised electronics and different auto-parts specifically for Toyota-Lexus motorsports development divisions [[Toyota Racing Development]] and the European motorsports facility of the company [[Toyota Team Europe|Toyota Gazoo Racing]] previously named Toyota Motorsports GmbH located in Germany. Denso plays a vital role as an [[OEM]] by specifically engineering auto-parts and electronics for Toyota in motorsports which mainly include spark plugs, starter motors, [[fuel pumps]], [[alternator (automotive)|alternators]], [[Engine Control Module]] (ECM) computer systems, engine & transmission sensors and many other high-performance automotive and motor racing equipments and accessories for Toyota to compete in a variety of motorsports categories which include [[NASCAR]], [[Panasonic Toyota Racing|Formula One]] (from 2002-2009), [[Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT|World Rally Championship]], and [[Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe GmbH|World Endurance Championship]]. The [[Toyota TS030 Hybrid]], using a Denso [[kinetic energy recovery system]], finished second in the [[2013 24 Hours of Le Mans]].

Denso products are also used in many local Japanese motorsports, including [[Super Formula Championship|Super Formula]] and [[Super GT]].

==Controversies==

=== Price fixing ===
On January 30, 2012, the [[US Justice Department]] announced after two years of investigation that it had discovered part of a massive [[price fixing]] scheme in which Denso and [[Yazaki]] played a significant role. The conspiracy, which fixed prices and allocated components to such car manufacturers as [[Toyota]] and [[Honda]], extended from [[Michigan]] to Japan, where it was also under investigation. Denso agreed to pay a fine of $78 million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bunkley|first=Nick|date=2012-01-30|title=Japanese Auto Suppliers Are Fined, and Executives Agree to Prison, in a Price-Fixing Case (Published 2012)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/business/japanese-auto-suppliers-fined-in-us-price-fixing-case.html|access-date=2020-12-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]], "U.S. fines Japanese auto parts suppliers $470 million", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 1 February 2012, p. 1.</ref>

=== Fuel pump lawsuits ===
In August 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed in [[Quebec]] over alleged defective fuel pumps in a number of [[Acura]], Honda, [[Lexus]], [[Subaru]], and Toyota vehicle models. A separate fuel pump lawsuit was filed for the remaining areas of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2020|title=Denso Canada Lawsuit Filed Over Fuel Pumps|url=https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2020/denso-canada-lawsuit-fuel-pumps.shtml|access-date=August 4, 2020|work=[[CarComplaints.com]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Companies}}
*[[FC Kariya]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Denso}}
{{Official website}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.nccjapan.net/shashiwiki/index.php?title=Denso_Corporation|title=Company history books (Shashi)|publisher=Shashi Interest Group|date=April 2016}} Wiki collection of bibliographic works on Denso

{{Automotive industry in Japan}}
{{Japanese Electronics Industry}}
{{TOPIX 100}}
{{Nikkei 225}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of Japan]]
[[Category:Robotics companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Industrial robotics]]
[[Category:Toyota]]
[[Category:Companies based in Aichi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the Nikkei 225]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1949]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Japan]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1949]]
[[Category:1950s initial public offerings]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Toyota Group]]