Adient debuts commercial vehicle seating solutions tailored for Chinese market at Auto Shanghai 2017

SHANGHAI, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adient plc (NYSE: ADNT), the world's leading automotive seating supplier, is debuting commercial vehicle seats for the Chinese market at Auto Shanghai 2017 in Hall 5.2, Booth 5BA001, of the National Exhibition and Convention Center. Based on Adient's modular truck seat platform, these seats have been tailored to the needs of OEM customers offering heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks in China.

Adient is presenting two different sample seats for commercial vehicles, each with market-specific equipment features and specifications: a driver seat with air suspension and a static seat (without air suspension) for passengers.

Depending on the truck manufacturer's requirements, the seats can be optionally equipped with features such as an express down function, a horizontal damper and belt integration. Both sample seats comply with the UNECE standard for Category N2 vehicles, and have passed all corresponding safety and loading tests. The modular platform from Adient also offers commercial vehicle seats with mechanical damping, mechanical height adjustment, as well as a cinema seat with a foldable backrest.

"Our commercial vehicle seats are already very successful in the premium segment in Europe", said David Herberg, executive director for commercial vehicle seating in Adient's Specialty Seating Group. "We're now focused on the mid-range truck segment in high-growth commercial vehicle regions such as China. Hence, the engineering of the seats on display has been executed by our joint venture Changchun FAWAY Adient Automotive Systems Co., Ltd." Adient has therefore extended its modular truck seat platform to include seat solutions that are tailored to the specific requirements of Chinese truck manufacturers.

"We're continuing to see large differences in OEM customer requirements between the world's regions, which essentially apply to specification levels, the extent of equipment features and comfort. These differences will weaken over the medium term. In fact, we're already seeing that the seemingly clear demarcations are softening, especially between Europe and Asia," said Herberg.

The Adient presentation at Auto Shanghai is also aimed at the numerous European manufacturers present in China through joint ventures with partners in Asia. European OEMs are already transferring Europe's often higher-end requirements to the Chinese market. These include more stringent specifications with respect to the number and function of adjustment options, the comfort level of foams and textiles, as well as requirements for more complex pneumatic damping systems.

"We have the ideal prerequisites to become one of the major global players in the commercial vehicle seating business," said Herberg. "We're offering the right products that follow the path of OEMs in terms of modularization, standardization and platform-based solutions. We have a global footprint that ensures local product development and manufacturing capacities"

Herberg expanded, "And from within Adient itself, we have access to best-in-class solutions in terms of seat structures, mechanisms and seat foams, as well as seat upholstery and innovative textiles for truck cabins. At the Adient stand at Auto Shanghai, our colleagues from Trim and Fabrics are showing new removable washable seat covers as well as seat covers that feature inkjet printing technology."

About Adient:
Adient is a global leader in automotive seating. With 75,000 employees operating in 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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Adient plc has made statements in this document that are forward-looking and, therefore, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be, deemed "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this document, statements regarding Adient's future financial position, sales, costs, earnings, cash flows, other measures of results of operations, capital expenditures or debt levels and plans, objectives, outlook, targets, guidance or goals are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," forecast," "project" or "plan" or terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Adient cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Adient's control, that could cause Adient's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: the ability of Adient to meet debt service requirements, the availability and terms of financing, general economic and business conditions, the strength of the U.S. or other economies, automotive vehicle production levels, mix and schedules, energy and commodity prices, the availability of raw materials and component products, currency exchange rates, and cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements. A detailed discussion of risks related to Adient's business is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Adient's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 29, 2016 and available at www.sec.gov. Potential investors and others should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, Adient assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this document. In addition, this document includes certain projections provided by Adient with respect to the anticipated future performance of Adient's businesses. Such projections reflect various assumptions of Adient's management concerning the future performance of Adient's businesses, which may or may not prove to be correct. The actual results may vary from the anticipated results and such variations may be material. Adient does not undertake any obligation to update the projections to reflect events or circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events. No representations or warranties are made as to the accuracy or reasonableness of such assumptions or the projections based thereon.

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