Adient focuses on key markets, displaying its seating solutions for volume-production European, Indian and Chinese models. Adient is strengthening its position as the global leader in automotive seating by offering commercial vehicle manufacturers market-tailored driver and passenger seats.
“Since the launch of our last product generation six years ago, we have consistently expanded our portfolio of commercial vehicle seats in the key markets,” says Dr. David Herberg, Executive Director Commercial Vehicle Seating at Adient.
In Europe, for instance, Adient and its premium brand Recaro are supplying Scania, Renault Trucks and Tadano Faun with original equipment seating solutions. From the end of 2019, the company will deliver driver and passenger seats to new customer MAN Truck & Bus. “Within a short period of time, we have established ourselves as a reliable and valued partner of our European OEM customers,” said Herberg.
In Asian markets, combining the right product offering with regional availability is the most important factor. Adient pursues this approach with a product structure that follows the path of OEMs regarding modularization, standardization and platform solutions. At the same time, it impresses customers by employing metal structural parts and other seat components from the Adient product portfolio that has proven its worth millions of times. Thanks to its global network of production sites, the company can also allocate local production capacities for commercial vehicle seats flexibly and quickly. Adient is also able to take charge of local development, sales management and project management tasks for OEM customers.
India is a key example of this approach: The country’s commercial vehicle market is changing due to new legislation and regulations regarding the safety of commercial vehicle cabins. Adient is benefiting from these circumstances by supplying its partner, Tata Motors with the 1516 Signa Seat for its Tata Signa model series of light and medium-sized trucks. This new suspension seat for drivers on display at IAA 2018 has been tested in accordance with Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) specifications, which are applied in India as well. It also offers excellent utility value: Passive ventilation improves seat comfort particularly for long-haul routes, removable and washable seat covers score points in terms of personalization and cleaning.
Among its Chinese OEM customers is JMC Heavy Duty Vehicles Co., Ltd., which began producing its new JH476 heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market late last year. Joint venture company Chongqin Yanfeng Adient Seating Co, Ltd. (CQYFAS) is supplying this new model series with two versions of driver seats, featuring either a mechanical or a pneumatic suspension. Adient is presenting both versions at IAA. User-friendly functionality, outstanding ergonomics, and a high degree of comfort facilitate and enhance day-to-day working conditions behind the wheel, both in 9-to-5 and 24/7 operational environments, and for professional drivers and seasonal workers alike.