IAC Addresses Challenges, Opportunities Facing Vehicle Interiors Industry at SPE Automotive TPO Conference

IAC Addresses Challenges, Opportunities Facing Vehicle Interiors Industry at
SPE Automotive TPO Conference

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In the face of mounting industry,
regulatory and economic challenges, vehicle interiors suppliers and automakers
are responding to the call for new and innovative interior solutions. This
was the subject of a keynote address today opening SPE Detroit Section's
annual Automotive TPO Global Conference held in Metro Detroit. Maurice
Sessel, vice president product engineering for International Automotive
Components (IAC) launched the conference with an optimistic keynote
presentation on "The Interior Challenge." Sessel empathized with attendees
and shared real-world examples of how IAC has turned many of these challenges
into business opportunities.

"This past year has been challenging for the automotive industry -- it's been
a year during which numerous events have compounded to dramatically impact not
only our customers, but the products and materials suppliers make," said
Sessel, who has worked in the automotive industry for more than 25 years. "At
IAC, we've used these variables as outlets of opportunity, rather than
recoiling from them."

During Sessel's presentation, he addressed three key demands that IAC believes
are shaping vehicle interiors today and in the future. The first demand is
the unprecedented economic and industry times that the automotive industry has
been facing. The lowest production volume in decades, reduced cash flow and
increased oil prices continue to present challenges for many suppliers at an
accelerated rate.

The second demand is consumer trends, inclusive of the increased demand for
sustainable and natural materials, transition to smaller, more fuel efficient
vehicles, improved craftsmanship, personalization and haptics. Lastly, the
tough government mandates for increased fuel efficiency and increased safety
continues to put automakers and their suppliers under tremendous pressure to
find ways to reduce vehicle mass, while improving crash performance. This,
combined with greater consumer expectations, means OEMs and suppliers must
find material and engineering solutions to satisfy often conflicting needs.

"Overcoming these variables is a progressive challenge for interiors suppliers
because the demands are continually biasing the balance," said Sessel. "IAC
is using out-of-the-box approaches to offset these biases and attempt to level
the playing field with advancements in materials, engineering and design,
capital management and vertical integration."

Using thermoplastic olefins (TPO), IAC has overcome material challenges to
improve safety, cost, weight and overall consumer satisfaction. In addition
to TPO advancements, IAC is using natural fibers (e.g. jute, flax, kenaf,
sisal and hemp) in its components to provide structural and process
advantages, as well as weight reduction.

In engineering and design, IAC uses a systems approach to vehicle interior
design, rather than a component-focused approach, which allows weight and cost
reduction without degrading the acoustic performance. Rethinking product
design also enhances existing processes and capital to meet changing customer
requirements.

IAC's "thinking outside-of-the-box mentality" was put to use in a two-step
headliner bracket solution featured in the 2009 Toyota Venza, which required a
larger opening and challenged headliner capabilities. Additionally, IAC has
established more efficient common development processes, which included
simplifying complexity and manufacturing process.

"Tough economic times have limited the cash available for investment," said
Sessel. "Opportunities for design alternatives, tooling advancements,
adapting equipment to meet customer needs, developing and enhancing materials
compatible with current capital, and vertical integration can be considered to
help organizations survive and thrive in this economy," he said.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS GROUP
International Automotive Components Group is a leading global supplier of
automotive components and systems, including interior and exterior trim and
structural and functional applications. IAC operates manufacturing facilities
in 17 countries with more than 24,000 employees and 2008 global annual sales
in excess of $4.0 billion. For more information, visit www.iacgroup.com.

SOURCE International Automotive Components

Dave Ladd, +1-248-202-2095, dladd@iacna.com