Adient JV to Open New plant in China

Adient, which is the largest manufacturer of automotive seating systems in the world has announced that it would be opening a new 90,000-square-meter factory for production of automotive seating mechanisms in Changshu. The plant would be set up through one of the company’s joint ventures in China, Adient Yanfeng Seating Mechanism Co. Ltd. (AYM).

AYM is a joint venture company which was established in December 2013, and in which Adient and Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd have a 50:50 stake. Currently the company operates from a 71,000-square-meter facility based in Kangqiao Industry Zone, Shanghai.

In order to operate the new factory after it becomes operational, AYM will hire new employees and transfer current employees from the Shanghai location. The factory will have a total workforce of 2000 employees and will have dedicated areas for special engineering, testing, prototyping and manufacturing lines for seating mechanisms, like tracks, adjusters, latches and related parts. The seating systems produced at the plant will be supplied to leading automotive manufacturers based in China and overseas including BMW, GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Daimler, SAIC, Mazda, Honda, Great Wall and Chang’an.

Commenting on the new plant, Darlene Knight, vice president of Adient China said that the company is dedicated to reinforcing vertical integration in core seating mechanisms technologies and providing clients with state-of-the-art products that are made locally in China. The opening of the new plant in Changshu would allow Adient to further expand its footprint and capacities in China.”

Based on the current timeline, AYM plans to begin recruiting employees and have the plant operational in the fourth quarter of 2018. AYM will also add additional facilities for stamping, electrophoretic painting, welding, fine-blanking, heat treatment and assembly by the end of 2018.

“This strategic move and expansion will enable us to generate sustainable growth in seating mechanisms businesses and to strengthen our market leadership in China,” said Knight.