The Success of Japanese Automotive Textile Suppliers Reflects Dramatic Changes in the Shape of the US Automotive Sector Itself

Business Wire, Jan 7, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c78721) has announced the addition of "The Rise of Japanese Textile Suppliers to the US Automotive Industry" to their offering.

The supply of textiles to the US automotive industry has changed significantly in recent years with the rise of Japanese textile companies. The most notable success story is Toyota Boshoku: part of the Toyota Group of companies, which also includes Toyota Motor. Others include Japan Vilene, Seiren, Takata, and UGN -- a joint venture between Switzerland-based Rieter Automotive Systems and Nihon Tokushu Toryo (Nittoku). Changes in the supply of automotive textiles have also led to shifts in the types of textiles employed in US vehicles. This reflects the fact that the preferences of Japanese and European manufacturers tend to differ from those of US producers.

The success of Japanese automotive textile suppliers reflects dramatic changes in the shape of the US automotive sector itself, as the share of US producers has fallen and that of Japanese producers has risen. In general, the dominance of the traditional "Big Three" automotive manufacturers (namely General Motors (GM), Ford and DaimlerChrysler) has waned while Japanese car producers such as Toyota Motor and others have enjoyed rapid and considerable growth in the US market. Sales in North America by Toyota Motor, for example, grew by 17.5% in its 2006/07 financial year, following similar double-digit increases in 2005/06 and 2004/05.

Looking ahead, the global automotive interiors market is set to reach US$210 bn by 2015, from an estimated US$165 bn in 2005. One major driving force for change in the automotive sector -- as in many others -- is the growing demand for environmentally-friendly products. Changes in attitudes towards ecological and environmental concerns are reflected in vehicle designs as well as automotive interiors. And Japan is taking a lead in this area. Other future trends include: the substitution of polyurethane foam in upholstery composites by three-dimensional polyester nonwovens, multi-knits and spacer fabrics which can be recycled; the increased use of efficient, longer life nonwoven filters to meet requirements for longer maintenance periods; the use of optical fibres in textile linings to illuminate certain parts of the car interior--such as the floor, door handles, and other areas; and the use of conductive textiles for heating and electromagnetic shielding, and for the collection or transmission of signals.

Contents:

Summary

Changing Patterns of Supply In The US Automotive Textile Market

Environmentally-friendly textile products

Toyota's Prius model

Japan Vilene

Toyota Boshoku

Rieter Automotive Systems

Honda and Mitsubishi Motors

Other future developments in automotive textiles

Types of Automotive Fabrics And Their Applications

Circular knitted fabrics

Warp knitted fabrics

Woven fabrics

Size And Growth of The Market For Automotive Textiles

Automotive interiors

Value

Volume

Automotive occupant restraint equipment

Textile usage per vehicle

Toyota Boshoku: Benefiting From Japanese Car Makers' Success In The Us Automotive Market

Company development

Operations

Operations in the Americas

Trim Masters

Other operations in the Americas

Investments

Financial performance

Japan Vilene

Facilities

Financial performance

Seiren

Facilities

Takata

Ugn

List of tables

Table 1: World: volume of textiles used in a car by product, 2000

Table 2: Toyota Boshoku: key operations in the Americas, 2007

Table 3: Toyota Boshoku: financial performance, 2003/04-2006/07

Table 4: Toyota Boshoku: sales by region, 2004/05-2006/07

Table 5: Takata: sales and operating income by region, 2005/06-2009/10

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c78721