Reference
1971-
Overview of DENSO Principles for Globalization
Overview of DENSO Principles for New Management Structure
Overview of SOKEN (at the time of establishment)
R&D Group company SOKEN was established in November 1970 as a joint investment (capitalized at 300 million yen) by DENSO and other closely related auto parts manufacturers. SOKEN was launched for the purpose of conducting contract research on safety and other issues, with a particular focus on preventing pollution, the biggest challenge facing the automotive industry at the time. At the time of its establishment, the company was owned by 11 corporate investors including DENSO, the others being Aisin Seiki, Toyoda Machine Works, Aisan Industry, Tokai Rika, Futaba Industrial, Nagoya Rubber (now Toyoda Gosei), Sango, Hosei Brake Industry, Cataler Corporation, and Kyosan Denki. In June 1971, SOKEN’s research facility was completed on a site adjacent to our Nishio Plant Administration Office. SOKEN was to address requested issues by conducting comprehensive research and development, utilizing the specialist technologies unique to the investing companies, with engineers from those companies working together in a joint research system. The establishment of SOKEN also brought added depth to the operations of DENSO’s R&D department.