Automotive seats supplier Adient (Plymouth, Michigan / USA; www.adient.com) and specialist for automotive safety systems Autoliv (Stockholm / Sweden; www.autoliv.com) have agreed on a cooperation to address vehicle seating challenges presented by designs for the future car and autonomous driving.

The companies said autonomous vehicle interiors will play an increasingly important role as drivers and passengers will spend more time on activities that are not related to active driving. Once vehicles have the capability to be computer-driven, passengers will demand far more flexibility from a vehicle’s interior than before, resulting in alternative seating positions to relax, work and socialise.

Adient was part of automotive supplier Johnson Controls (Milwaukee, Wisconsin / USA; www.johnsoncontrols.com) until the end of 2016 (see Plasteurope.com of 21.01.2016). With 75,000 employees and 230 production and assembly plants in 33 countries worldwide, the company has reportedly produced automobile seats for all vehicle segments and for all major car manufacturers. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv operates over 80 plants and employs more than 70,000 people in 27 countries.