Denso: The supplier industry benchmark

Leading Japanese supplier Denso Corporation is arguably the best performing large supplier in the world today. It is currently enjoying both rapid growth on overseas markets, particularly in Europe and Asia outside Japan, and is the second most profitable supplier (in absolute terms) in the world. Denso's depth of know-how in automotive electronics positions it to grow strongly with the steady rise of automotive electronic applications, particularly in more complex safety and engine-related systems. Japan accounted for 56.3% of Denso's sales in its last financial year to 31 March 2004, but the election of Koichi Fukaya, with strong international experience, to President and CEO of Denso in July 2003 underlines the international ambitions of the group. Edmund Chew reports