2. ‘Clean Is a Reality’ With New Faurecia Products Destined to Move to Highways
From the 2010 LA Auto Show
Thinner seats and doors, exhaust heat recovery for hybrids and electrics,
lighter tailgate highlight 20 new products at Faurecia’s LA exhibit
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2010 – For many years the auto industry has pursued
the goal of Clean, and now Faurecia (http://www.faurecialaautoshow.com) is
proclaiming that “Clean is a reality” with the production-ready products it will
Faurecia Clean
display at the 2010 LA Auto Show press days, Nov. 17-18. press Conference
Faurecia innovations are focused sharply on helping vehicles become cleaner by November 18, 1pm pST,
making them lighter and therefore more fuel efficient. This year, Faurecia–the West Hall, Room 515
world’s sixth-largest auto supplier–brings lightweight engineering to new areas
inside, outside and under the car and incorporates even more environmentally Immediately preceding the
sustainable materials and natural fibers within the vehicle. Design Los Angeles event
Faurecia’s exhibit, in the South Hall, Upper Level Lobby, of the Los Angeles
Convention Center, is expected to fuel interest in 20 new or next-generation
products–along with several groundbreaking new concepts. They will be Faurecia Exhibit at
described at a news conference on Faurecia Clean, Nov. 18 at 1 pm pST
in West Hall room 515, immediately preceding the Design Los Angeles event. the LA Auto Show
Most of the new products in Faurecia’s exhibit, innovations that can provide November 17-18,
weight savings as high as 20 to 40 percent, are expected to be integrated into 9Am-4pm pST
American, European and Asian vehicles between 2011 and 2014.
South Hall,
The latest developments and new concepts that Faurecia will display include: Upper Level Lobby
• SmartFit™ – An application that uses a smartphone to automatically (near Starbucks)
adjust vehicle seats to each individual for the perfect seating
experience. SmartFit™ reduces the complexity of seat controls to
optimize comfort and safety, interfacing via Bluetooth with traditional
seat electronics. SmartFit™ takes advantage of a device that drivers
already bring into their vehicles every day
• A new generation of super-thin seatbacks and cushions that use new
materials to replace traditional steel and foam components with lighter
and more easily recyclable materials
3. Press Release
• Exhaust-heat recovery (EHRS) technology for hybrid and plug-
in electric vehicles that extracts heat quickly from the internal-
combustion exhaust gases to reduce the amount of time that
engines must run to sufficiently heat the cabin, improving fuel
economy and lowering emissions
• A thermoelectric generator that converts heat from exhaust
SmartFit™
gases to electricity to power vehicle systems, reducing
demands on the alternator and improving fuel economy
• Low-weight covering premium (LOCOP) instrument panel
skin, a cut-and-sew solution that offers the soft-touch feel of
polyurethane covering material yet is much lighter in weight
and more easily recycled than the traditional fabric
Composite Backrest • Lightweight approaches and natural materials that bring Clean
benefits to more areas of the vehicle, from trim to tailgate.
Faurecia’s thermoplastic liftgate, for example, has elevated
ease of use and slashed the weight of the tailgate
“Once, some observers questioned whether the auto industry could
be both successful and Clean. Now we know that it can be successful
because it is Clean,” said Faurecia North America President Michael
Heneka. “In advancing this success, Faurecia’s Clean vision is to
EHRS continue to develop new approaches, materials and devices, from the
front end to the tailgate, from the front seat to the tailpipe, to make
vehicles lighter, cleaner, safer and roomier.”
New systems and approaches will be exhibited by each of Faurecia’s
four world-class business groups: Automotive Seating, Emissions
Control Technologies, Interior Systems and Automotive Exteriors.
Together, these groups are laying the groundwork for the future course
Thermal Enhancer™ of an auto industry that will thrive with environmentally responsible and
economical vehicles.
“With contributions to many aspects of today’s vehicles, Faurecia
recognizes its special responsibility toward the future of automotive
engineering and design,” said Faurecia Vice President of Product
Planning & Innovation, Philippe Aumont. “Our global network of
R&D and innovation teams is at work everyday to satisfy tomorrow’s
requirements for customers, consumers and citizens. By helping to
LOCOp make cleaner vehicles without compromising safety, comfort or quality,
Faurecia is providing solutions that bring greater added value to the
automotive industry.”
Visit the Faurecia booth at the LA Auto Show to get a firsthand
look at these innovations and other Faurecia products. Or
download the press kit and images of Faurecia’s products at
http://www.faurecialaautoshow.com. For the latest updates on Faurecia
Ford Kuga Liftgate
activities in LA and beyond, visit http://www.facebook.com/faureciaNA
and http://www.twitter.com/faurecia_na.
4. About Faurecia
Faurecia is the world’s sixth largest automotive equipment supplier,
with four key business groups: Automotive Seating, Emissions Control
Technologies, Interior Systems and Automotive Exteriors. In 2009,
the Group posted pro-forma sales of $16 billion*. The company is
headquartered in Nanterre, France with North American headquarters
in Auburn Hills, Mich. It operates in 32 countries at 200 sites and
33 R&D centers. Faurecia is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock
exchange. For more information, visit: http://www.faurecia.com.
*Pro-forma sales including EMCON Technologies and Plastal.
Media contacts
Stacie Tong
Director, Communications
Faurecia North America
Tel. +1 (248) 409 3935
stacie.tong@faurecia.com
Jenn Korail
Airfoil Public Relations
for Faurecia North America
Tel. +1 (248) 304 1429
korail@airfoilpr.com
http://www.facebook.com/faureciaNA
http://www.twitter.com/faurecia_na
Faurecia Group Communications 2010
Images:
Ford Kuga courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
All other images copyright Faurecia 2010.
