Denso Corp – Lobbying Governance & Transparency

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Lobbying Governance

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Strong	Denso discloses a structured process to keep its policy advocacy consistent with its climate objectives, stating that "any direct or indirect activities that affect policies are reported to Safety Health & Environment Div., and analyses of the company-wide climate change strategy are carried out." The company explains that, when these analyses identify the need for action, "it is deliberated and decided by the company-wide safety, health and environment committee," demonstrating that a named internal committee holds decision-making authority over lobbying alignment. Oversight extends to both channels of influence: Denso is "a member of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA) and the Japan Business Federation" and confirms that, before engaging through these bodies or through its own advocacy, "we confirm the consistency with DENSO's climate change strategy and collaborate," indicating that indirect and direct lobbying are both checked for alignment. The monitoring cadence is also described: climate-lobbying decisions are "reported twice a year" to regional and group environmental committees across domestic and overseas operations, which suggests an ongoing, scheduled review rather than an ad-hoc approach. While this reveals clear governance, including responsible entities, routine reporting and a mechanism to adjust strategy where misalignment is found, the disclosure does not provide detail on whether Denso publicly audits the climate-policy positions of its trade associations or takes corrective steps such as engagement or withdrawal when conflicts arise; this limits the transparency of its alignment actions. View Sources	B

Overall Assessment

Analysis

Score

Strong

Denso discloses a structured process to keep its policy advocacy consistent with its climate objectives, stating that "any direct or indirect activities that affect policies are reported to Safety Health & Environment Div., and analyses of the company-wide climate change strategy are carried out." The company explains that, when these analyses identify the need for action, "it is deliberated and decided by the company-wide safety, health and environment committee," demonstrating that a named internal committee holds decision-making authority over lobbying alignment. Oversight extends to both channels of influence: Denso is "a member of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA) and the Japan Business Federation" and confirms that, before engaging through these bodies or through its own advocacy, "we confirm the consistency with DENSO's climate change strategy and collaborate," indicating that indirect and direct lobbying are both checked for alignment. The monitoring cadence is also described: climate-lobbying decisions are "reported twice a year" to regional and group environmental committees across domestic and overseas operations, which suggests an ongoing, scheduled review rather than an ad-hoc approach. While this reveals clear governance, including responsible entities, routine reporting and a mechanism to adjust strategy where misalignment is found, the disclosure does not provide detail on whether Denso publicly audits the climate-policy positions of its trade associations or takes corrective steps such as engagement or withdrawal when conflicts arise; this limits the transparency of its alignment actions.

View Sources

Lobbying Transparency

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Limited	Denso’s available disclosures offer only limited insight into its climate-related lobbying. The company references engagement with a single policy—the European Commission’s forthcoming battery regulation that will mandate disclosure of battery lifecycle emissions and recycling rates—but does not provide the regulation’s formal title or any additional identifying details. It gives no description of how it has attempted to influence this or any other measure; there is no mention of letters, meetings, consultation responses, trade-association activity or other lobbying channels, nor are specific government bodies or individual policymakers identified as targets. Likewise, the disclosures do not articulate what policy changes the company is advocating for: the narrative focuses on building a data-sharing platform to comply with the rule and on broad aspirations such as improving carbon neutrality and recycling, without stating any desired amendments, thresholds or timelines. Overall, the information demonstrates minimal transparency about actual lobbying activity, mechanisms or intended policy outcomes.	D