Global seat supplier Adient opens West Coast office

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Adient, the world’s largest global automotive seating supplier, today announced the opening of its West Coast business office in San Jose, Calif. The office will serve as a research and development hub supporting existing OEM customers and new players to the automotive industry focused on connected and autonomous vehicles.

Adient (NYSE: ADNT) debuted as an independent, publically traded company after its separation from Johnson Controls on Oct. 31.

Adient’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer R. Bruce McDonald and other members of the company’s management team participated in an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 1. The office houses approximately 25 employees in business development, product development and industrial design. 

“Our entry into the West Coast is strategic and significant,” said McDonald. “The development of transformational technologies in this region as well as the autonomous vehicle revolution makes it imperative that Adient have a foothold here. This move signifies our commitment to continuing to lead in seating innovation.”

Adient plans to increase investments in innovative products and technologies that address trends such as autonomous driving, electrification, slim and lightweight seating, and consumer personalization.  Having a presence in Silicon Valley advances that strategy.

The company also expects to take advantage of opportunities in adjacent markets outside of the traditional automotive industry, such as in commercial vehicle, passenger train and aircraft seating.

About Adient:
Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With 75,000 employees operating 230 manufacturing/assembly plants in 33 countries worldwide, we produce and deliver automotive seating for all vehicle classes and all major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our integrated, in-house skills allow us to take our products from research and design all the way to engineering and manufacturing – and into more than 25 million vehicles every year. For more information on Adient, please visit adient.com.

SOURCE Adient