DENSO Corporation will start inverter production at DENSO Fukushima Co., Ltd., to reinforce its manufacturing capability in Japan. In addition, this move will also enhance DENSO Group’s competitiveness in the electrification field.

DENSO Fukushima is a DENSO Group company that manufactures automotive thermal products. Among them are air conditioners and engine cooling modules (ECMs), and fuel system components for gasoline engines. While the company will continue to produce these products, it has established a new inverter production line at Plant No. 2, with product shipments has already started.

Meets Global Demand

DENSO started producing inverters, which are essential components for automotive electrification technology, in 1997^*. Now, the company has the largest share of the global automotive inverter market. Therefore, reflecting the product’s high demand cultivated through excellent quality and performance.

DENSO has been manufacturing inverters at the Hirose Plant in addition to the Anjo Plant, which is the global mother plant for electrification in Japan. Foreseeing the acceleration of electrification, DENSO made the strategic decision to launch inverter production at DENSO Fukushima as well.

With the latest production expansion to three plants in Japan, DENSO now globally manufactures inverters at eight plants in four regions. Specifically, they include DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. in North America; DENSO Manufacturing Hungary Ltd. in Europe; and Tianjin DENSO Electronics Co., Ltd., Tianjin DENSO Engine Electrical Products Co., Ltd., and DENSO (Guangzhou Nansha) Co., Ltd. in China. This enables the company to rapidly meet inverter demand worldwide.

Finally, by expanding the production of inverters, DENSO will quickly and flexibly meet the various needs of customers. At the same time, it will further enhance its competitiveness in the electrification field.

Essential to EVs

All hybrid and electric vehicles use critical devices and among them are motor to drive wheels and inverters.

These types of motors typically run on alternating current. Therefore, direct current from the battery needs to be converted into alternating current with the help of an inverter.

For this conversion, inverters have a power module with a semiconductor switching device. Specifically, this turns On and Off to change the direction of current to generate an alternating current. Thus, inverters are essential to electric vehicles.

Note:

^*This includes the period when inverters were produced at Toyota Motor Corporation’s Hirose Plant. In April 2020, due to the consolidation of the electronic components business between Toyota and DENSO, the Hirose Plant was transferred to DENSO.

06 September 2024