DENSO Establishes $15-Million Corporate Foundation To Support Engineering, Technology and Business Education

 First Japan-Based Automotive Supplier to Set Up Foundation in North America

    DETROIT, March 5 DENSO International America, Inc.,
North American headquarters for automotive supplier giant DENSO Corporation,
today announced that it has established a corporate foundation with future
assets to total approximately $15 million at full endowment in 2010.
    DENSO, the fourth largest automotive supplier in the world, is the first
Japan-based automotive supplier in North America to establish a charitable
foundation.
    Tony Takeuchi, president and CEO of DENSO International America, made the
announcement at the annual SAE World Congress with Foundation Board member
Dr. David Cole, director of the Center for Automotive Research and management
partner of the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM).
    The DENSO North America Foundation, funded by DENSO International America,
will provide grants to institutions of higher education with an emphasis on
engineering, technology and business.  It will also provide grants to the
American Red Cross to offer aid to persons and communities in distress due to
the impact of natural disasters in North American locations where DENSO
operates.
    Proposals will be considered from universities and higher education
institutions throughout North America.  Eligible projects include capital
campaign support, scholarship programs, undergraduate research and student
projects.
    Established Jan. 1, 2001, with $5 million in assets, the Foundation is
incorporated in the State of Michigan as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
    Takeuchi said, "Four years ago, we created DENSO Vision 2005 and our
mission was to contribute to a better world by creating value for society, for
customers and for our employees."
    DENSO has made it a priority for the past 37 years, he explained, "to
support education, human services, environmental preservation and the arts.
To date, our contributions total close to $10 million in North America.  Now,
we want to do more."
    Takeuchi serves as the Foundation's founder/adviser.  Officers are
John Voorhorst, president; Michael Kummer, treasurer, and Barbara Wertheimer,
secretary.  Board of Directors members are Dr. David Cole, James Woroniecki,
senior vice president, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee in Maryville; Stanley
Tooley, senior vice president, DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Battle Creek,
Mark Jonas, vice president, DENSO Sales California, Long Beach; Voorhorst,
vice president, and Kummer, treasurer, both DENSO International America in
Southfield, Mich.
    For more information, visit the Foundation website at
http://www.densofoundation.org or write to:  DENSO North America Foundation,
24777 Denso Dr., P.O. Box 5133, Southfield, Mich. 48086.

    About DENSO
    DENSO, fourth largest automotive supplier in the world, supplies advanced
technology, systems and components to all major carmakers.  Globally, the firm
employs 81,000 people in 26 countries.
    In North America, DENSO employs more than 13,000 people at 21 companies in
Michigan, Tennessee, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia,
Kentucky, Ontario and Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

    For more information, visit http://www.globaldenso.com.