Autonomous vehicles navigate a highway.Global mobility giant Denso has quietly opened its new research and development office across from Amazon’s headquarters in downtown Seattle. The company plans to partner with regional technology companies and universities to develop cloud computing technologies, autonomous driving capabilities and mobility software solutions.

“Our Seattle Innovation Lab will play a key role in shaping Denso’s technology for current and new customers, regionally and around the globe,” Kenichiro Ito, CEO of Denso’s North American headquarters said in a statement. “As we continue to innovate in emerging fields, we are changing what is possible for the future of transportation and mobility, and setting the course for how we achieve it.”

The Japanese company was drawn to the Puget Sound region by the wealth of top-tier technology talent and opportunities to work with other innovative companies in the field. Denso has 211 facilities around the world, employing 170,000 workers. Denso is Tier 1 supplier to nearly every vehicle manufacturer in the world, focusing on thermal, powertrain, mobility, electrification and electronic systems. Earlier this year, the company teamed up with Softbank Vision Fund and Toyota, investing $1 billion in Uber’s autonomous driving unit.

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