From car seat manufacturer to technology company – the impressive development of the Lear Corporation
10. May 2018US-based vehicle supplier Lear Corporation can look back on a successful past business year. The good development is mainly based on a broader product lineup and increasing sales of SUVs and premium vehicles using Lear components. The company has perfectly mastered the transformation from a mere manufacturer of car seats to a full-fledged and innovative technology group for the automotive industry. With the development of so-called “smart seats”, which are connected with the safety systems of the vehicle, they could prove to be an advanced manufacturer. When the vehicle sensors register an accident, the seat automatically moves to a safe position. Comfort features such as speakers in the headrests, air-conditioned seats or sensors for monitoring body functions will also be available in the future.
Another growth sees the Lear Corporation in China. So far, only about 14% of sales are generated in this region. Due to the generally increasing sales of new vehicles and in particular SUVs in the world’s largest car market, they are hoping for an increase in market share. The car parts supplier is already well positioned in China and has close relationships with foreign and local vehicle manufacturers. As a result, it can possibly offset the declining needs of one customer through more sales to others.
Through corporate acquisitions, Lear Corporation is clearly on a growth course and has been able to implement their know-how in its products. At the end of 2015, Arada Systems, a manufacturer of vehicle communication systems, and EXO Technologies, which develops GPS systems, were acquired by Lear. With the purchase of the car seat division of the supplier Grupo Antolin, it was also possible to secure a new technology for power supply and seat adjustment.
Car seats are becoming an increasingly important component for the safety of vehicle occupants. This includes strengthening the seat structure with modern materials, installing various airbags and adjusting the seat and headrests during an accident. Companies that want to produce or import car seats and components in China or for the Chinese market have to provide the required China Compulsory Certification (China CCC).
For more information on how CCC certification may affect your company, or for more information about CCC certification in general, the process, and the associated costs, please visit our website and our News Section where you will find current updates twice a week.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also check out our free CCC-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file or you consult our book (in English) “A Brief Guide to CCC: China Compulsory Certification”, which can be found directly here on Amazon.
