Adient to set up Joint Venture in India for Manufacture of Seat Fabrics

Adient has announced that the company will be shortly setting up a joint venture in India with the well known textile manufacturer, Arvind Group, for making and selling automotive fabrics in the Indian market. Called Adient Arvind Automotive fabrics, the new company will deal with the production of high-performance fabrics. The company will have a manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad that will cater to the need of domestic and overseas markets. Adient have a 50.5 percent share in the new joint venture company and the board of directors will have representatives from both Arvind and Adient.

The JV will benefit from the expertise of both parties in their respective fields and will collaborate closely with its customers on long-term product road maps. The goal is to provide Indian and global vehicle manufacturers with innovative solutions in fabrics high quality products, that will set new standards when it comes to design, comfort and aesthetic variety in India.

Commenting on the partnership, Jef Vercammen, vice president, Global Fabrics at Adient said that Adient is committed to use continuing advancements to expand its portfolio of fabric products and deliver new value to its customers. The partnership with Arvind Limited will give Adient a foothold in the Indian market which is growing at a rapid pace. Adient has immense technological resources and expertise in global fabrics while Arvind brings to the partnership its extensive manufacturing capabilities.

Punit Lalbhai, executive director, Arvind Group, said that the company’s goal is to transform its business through technologies and partnerships. Arvind has plans to explore other aspects of the textile business like human protection, construction and transport. Consumers will get access to superior and high-quality automotive seating solutions as an outcome of the winning combination of Adient’s market presence and automotive expertise as well as Arvind’s textile manufacturing capabilities.

Murali Rajagopalan, director and country manager, Adient India, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Arvind, a well-respected leader in the textiles industry with a long history of manufacturing excellence, from yarn production through to innovative textile products. Through this collaboration Adient will gain a strong position from which to serve our Indian and global customers and ultimately offer more value to consumers in India.”