DENSO Announces Major Expansion of Maryville, Tenn. Manufacturing Facility

Approximately $185 Million Investment and 500 New Jobs by 2010

MARYVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 5 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee President Mack Hattori today jointly announced a significant expansion of DENSO's manufacturing facilities in Maryville. It will be the largest single expansion in the 15-year history of DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee.

The new facility, a capital investment totaling approximately US$185 million, will produce automotive electronic components. DENSO expects the expansion to result in approximately 500 new jobs by 2010, and to add approximately 220,000 square feet to the company's existing 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space. Hiring will not begin until late 2007.

"Carmakers continue to increase the electronic part content in their products, which has led to higher electronic part sales for DENSO," Hattori said. "As a result, we needed more manufacturing capacity to satisfy customer demand."

Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin in early 2007 with building completion targeted for the end of 2007. Production is expected to start in spring 2008.

Established in 1988, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee manufactures starters, alternators, instrument clusters and electronics for the automotive industry. The company currently employs approximately 2,500 people.

Japan-based DENSO Corporation, a leading global supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components, employs 104,000 people in 31 countries with global sales totaling US$26.2 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. In the Americas, DENSO employs more than 15,000 people at 33 companies with sales for the above fiscal year totaling US$5.4 billion. DENSO International America serves as DENSO's North American headquarters.

  For more information, go to http://www.densocorp-na.com/ .

  Profile
  Company Name: DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.
  Established: 1988
  Location: Maryville, Tennessee, USA
  Investment:     Current - US$850 million
                  Expansion - Approximately US$185 million
                  After expansion total - More than US$1 billion
  Employees:      Current - 2,500*
                  By 2010 - Approximately 3,000
  Original Production Start: 1990
  Expansion Production Start: Spring 2008
  President:  Mack Hattori
  Ownership: DENSO International America, Inc. (North American headquarters)

             100 percent
  Products Manufactured: Automotive starters, alternators, instrument
                         clusters and electronics
  Total Grounds: Current - Approximately 6.7 million square feet*
  Facilities: Current - 3 plants*
  Manufacturing Space:  Current  - 1.5 million square feet;
                        By 2008 - Approximately 1.72 million square feet
  Environmental:  ISO 14001 Certified for Environmental Operations and
                  numerous state and local environmental awards.

  *Based on current data

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