Pursuant with its growth strategy and to reinforce its technology offering in complete automotive seats, Faurecia (Nanterre, France) announces the acquisition of the seat comfort segment of HOERBIGER Automotive Komfortsysteme GmbH (Schongau, Germany), a player in the field of automotive comfort solutions.
HOERBIGER Automotive Komfortsysteme GmbH develops and manufactures leading-edge pneumatic (vs. electro-mechanical) seat comfort systems, mainly targeted at premium vehicle segments. The pneumatic system allows for a wide variety of comfort functions, such as massage, shoulder, lumbar, lateral and thigh support.
In addition, the pneumatic solution can be adjusted individually to the contour of the driver/passenger, resulting in ergonomically first-class vehicle seats using the sophisticated system. This is already the standard in the latest high-end German “premium” vehicles. Over time, lighter and thinner pneumatic systems are expected to substitute existing electromechanical systems across vehicle segments. Furthermore, the seat systems developed by HOERBIGER Automotive Komfortsysteme GmbH and the components installed in the seat systems are covered by a comprehensive portfolio of patents, ensuring long-term technology leadership.
“This new acquisition is in line with Faurecia’s strategy: it reinforces the technology leadership of our Automotive Seating activity and strengthens our presence in the premium segment,” stated Yann Delabrière, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Faurecia.
Based in Schongau (Germany), HOERBIGERS’s seat comfort segment generated sales of 20 million euros in 2009, mainly with Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
“The sale of the Seat Comfort Segment is the start of a comprehensive restructuring phase of our company. In the future, we will focus even more strongly on our core competencies of hydraulic convertible top systems and pneumatic gearshift systems,” said Gerhard Messmer, Managing Director of HOERBIGER Automotive Komfortsysteme GmbH.
Since this acquisition is subject to obtaining approval of the German anti-trust authorities, the closing is expected to be effective by end of 2010.
