Global market review of vehicle seating – forecasts to 2016

Over the years, new materials and techniques have improved vehicle occupant comfort and wear resistance while reducing weight and cost. Yet manufacturers have developed a number of safety-related seat innovations, too. For example, Lear launched ProTec PLuS, the latest version of its active head restraint products that help reduce whiplash injuries in rear impacts, in the 2009 Honda Accord Coupe.

"ProTec PLuS utilises the occupant’s penetration into the seat to move the head restraint forward thus minimising head rotation [and] in turn minimising whiplash," said Jeff Frelich, Lear Corp’s director of research and design, seating systems in an exclusive interview . "Lear was first-to-market with its family of active head restraints in 1998 and continues its technical leadership position today."

In this sixth edition report, we review the key market drivers for vehicle seating, and updates the market analysis. Following our market overview in Chapter 1, our product fitment forecasts in Chapter 2 The market, predict in some detail how the market volume and value for front seating, and market value for front, rear and complete seating will evolve in Europe, Japan, China and North America from 2006 through 2016. This chapter includes long and detailed Q&As with senior executives of Lear Corp and Magna Seating.

Chapter 3 Technical review
The manufacture of a complete seat involves a blend of processes for five distinct products, namely seat frames, seat adjustment mechanisms, foam padding, seat covers and just-in-time assembly.

This chapter sets out a review of recent innovations in this arena.

Chapter 4 Manufacturers
Here we review the effect the downturn has had on the major seating manufacturers.

Extract:
For the third quarter ended 30 September 2009, Faurecia’s seating business posted sales revenues of EUR995.8m, a decrease of 16.8% compared to the third quarter period in 2008. More specifically, its European seating sales were down 18.4% over the corresponding period, down 26.9% in North America and down 3% in South America. In Asia, however, its seating business reported strong demand, with sales up by 34.7% over the comparable quarter period.

This chapter provides profiles of the major manufacturers, namely Faurecia, Johnson Controls, Lear, Magna Seating, Tachi-S and Toyota Boshuku.