* Denso exec: revenues may dip on strong yen in 2010/11
* Says growth in China to offset falls in Japan, Europe
* Sees revenue around 3.0-3.1 trln yen in next 2-3 years
* May team up with battery maker on hybrid car components
* Expects R&D spending of about 260 bln yen in 2010/11 (Adds more details)
By Yumiko Nishitani
KARIYA, Japan, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Japan's largest supplier of car parts, Denso Corp, will aim for a rise in operating profit in 2010/11 partly thanks to strong Chinese demand, but the strong yen may hurt its revenue, a Denso executive said on Thursday.
Car sales have recovered in many parts of the world, driven by government incentives, but automakers and parts makers alike have voiced concern about a reversal in that trend when sales promotion programmes are ended.
The yen's recent rise to a 14-year high against the dollar also hurts Japanese exporters as it makes their products less competitive overseas.
Denso managing director Sadahiro Usui told Reuters in an interview that continued demand growth in China will likely help the company offset the impact of a slump in Japan and Europe.
"We are still trying to gauge production plans at carmakers, but in our view, the Chinese market will continue expanding, even without government subsidies, while demand in Japan and Europe would fall back compared with this year," he said.
Denso, the majority of whose revenue comes from Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co, Japan's top two carmakers, generates more than 30 percent its income in offshore markets, with China a key profit contributor.
Denso raised its year-to-March earnings forecast on Oct. 30, as Toyota and other carmakers expanded production, prompted by a recovery in demand both at home and overseas.
Its latest earnings outlook is based on the dollar averaging 92 yen, but the currency pair recently slipped below 85 yen as the dollar weakened.
To minimise exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations, Usui said Denso would consider raising overseas procurement and production.
For the year to March 2010, Denso now forecasts an operating profit of 36.0 billion yen, which would mark a rebound from its loss of 37 billion yen a year ago, on revenue of 2.80 trillion yen, down 10.9 percent.
Denso, which makes air-conditioners and engine parts, competes with Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH and the United States' Delphi Corp.
Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, holds 22.5 percent of voting rights in Denso, formerly a division of Toyota, while Bosch holds a 5.9 percent stake in Denso to cement their decades-old technological partnership. (Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani; Editing by Hugh Lawson) ((yumiko.nishitani@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1803; Reuters Messaging: yumiko.nishitani.reuters.com@reuters.net))