Denso and Bosch to disband diesel particulate filter joint venture

21 May 2009

Denso Corporation and Robert Bosch GmbH have agreed to discontinue their joint development activities for diesel particulate filters (DPF). As a result of this decision, the “Advanced Diesel Particulate Filters Sp.z o.o.” (ADIF) joint venture is to be disbanded by the end of 2009. Founded in 2007, the purpose of ADIF was to develop, manufacture, and market DPF filters made of cordierite ceramic. Denso and Bosch each have a 50% stake in ADIF.

The two companies have agreed that further common activities do not appear to make business sense at the present time, given the currently difficult environment in the global automotive industry. The Denso and Bosch associates assigned to the joint venture will return to their parent companies. The manufacturing facility set up in Wroclaw, Poland, will be assigned to the manufacturing network of Bosch and used for a new purpose.

In 2003, Denso started production and supply of its cordierite DPFs. Denso believes that the cordierite DPF has a promising market in the long-term and will continue its development and production after the close of ADIF.

Source: Denso