Battle Creek, Mich. – October 07, 2026 -- DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (DMMI) donated $250,000 to the Battle Creek Housing Fund on Oct. 7, marking 40 years of operations and reinforcing the automotive supplier's role as Calhoun County's largest employer.
DMMI grew from 200 workers to a 1.38 million-square-foot plant employing over 2,000
Production at DMMI began July 1, 1986, as DENSO's first manufacturing facility in North America. The site has since expanded into a 1.38 million-square-foot operation with more than 2,000 team members producing automotive thermal technologies for carmakers across the region.
Housing fund targets 1,000 homes by 2035 amid local shortage
The fund, led by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the City of Battle Creek and Battle Creek Unlimited, supports affordable, workforce and market-rate housing. DENSO's contribution advances the fund's goal of building or rehabilitating 1,000 homes by 2035 to address a regional housing shortage.
State-backed $63 million retool now powers new HVAC line for a major carmaker
In 2023, the State of Michigan supported a $63 million DENSO investment to retool production areas at DMMI for advanced thermal technologies serving electrified vehicles. A new production line enabled by that investment is now operating at the facility, supplying heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology to a major automaker.
Michigan Governor and federal lawmaker join anniversary ceremony
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga, Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke, DMMI President Shuichi Kamakura and DENSO North America CEO Tomoyuki Arakawa attended the anniversary event. Whitmer said DMMI supports more than 2,000 jobs and called the facility a cornerstone of the Battle Creek community.
Kamakura said the housing donation reflects the company's gratitude to team members, customers and community partners over four decades, and aims to help make affordable housing more accessible locally.
DMMI's history includes recognition from IndustryWeek and Chrysler
DMMI was named one of IndustryWeek's Top 10 Manufacturing Plants in America on Oct. 18, 1991, and received Chrysler's Pentastar Award on Feb. 12, 1993. The site has also added community infrastructure over the years, including a pharmacy in 2005, a Family Health Center in 2017 and a North America Technical Training Center in 2019.