Winterthur, Switzerland -- Autoneum and Nittoku have signed a memorandum of understanding with Toyota Boshoku on cooperation in the automotive interior business.
The three leading automotive suppliers will collaborate in developing interior systems for hybrid vehicles, and aim to exploit their competences in car interior, acoustics and thermal management, to apply a full systems approach.
Autoneum (headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland), Nittoku (Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co.; Tokyo, Japan), and Toyota Boshoku Corp. (Kariya, Japan) will carry out joint strategic development of lightweight interior systems to provide best-in-class vehicle acoustics, particularly for hybrid cars that offer attractive growth potential.
A 28 Aug joint press release said the key benefit of this cooperation lies in the full systems approach to soundproofing technology, synergising the specific expertise and collective innovation power of all three parties.
Optimising the three group's resources and acoustic and thermal competences in materials technology "will enable significant noise and vibration reduction for various product applications for hybrid vehicles," said the statement.
"Interior systems including headlining and door trim, carpet and dash silencer, damping, engine encapsulation and under-body solutions," will be optimised for global customers.
The three participants are leading players in their fields. Toyota Boshoku is an interior systems supplier developing and manufacturing seats and interior trims. Autoneum and Nittoku have been strong partners for decades, providing Japanese car manufacturers globally with innovative lightweight solutions for noise reduction and thermal management.
PIC: left to right: Martin Hirzel, ceo Autoneum, Dr Shuhei Toyoda, president Toyota Boshoku, and Masahiro Nojima, president Nittoku
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