Southfield’s Denso, an automotive supplier of technology and components, has announced today its Silicon Valley office’s partnership with Plug and Play, an innovation platform. DENSO joins 40 other automotive players, including Ford, Bosch, Nissan, and Toyota Financial Services, as corporate partners in Plug and Play’s Mobility Program.
Denso will work with Plug and Play’s network of startups to accelerate its business and technology development in four core areas: connectivity, autonomous driving, shared mobility, and electrification (CASE). Denso will also contribute to the growth and success of the startups and entrepreneurs involved.
“While we’ve been more self-sufficient in the past, Denso is embracing open innovation to bolster our technology portfolio to keep pace with the rapid changes in the automotive industry,” says Bill Foy, senior vice president of engineering at Denso’s North American headquarters. “We’re thrilled to join the Plug and Play platform, so we can strategically evaluate new partners and opportunities that allow us to quickly and flexibly develop unique solutions that meet the needs of our customers.”
Founded in 2006, Plug and Play now operates in 26 locations worldwide. It runs industry-specific accelerator programs that connect startups to corporations for business development and investment opportunities. Startups that have had success with the help of Plug and Play and their partners include PayPal and DropBox.
“Our talented teams in Denso’s Silicon Valley and Tokyo offices are embracing open innovation and working closely alongside Plug and Play to identify and establish partnerships with already-vetted startups that can accelerate our long-term vision of creating a safe and secure future of mobility for all,” says Foy.
Denso participated in its first Plug and Play summit on July 11 in downtown Detroit, where it met with 20 startups that demonstrated who their emerging technologies are impacting mobility.
