Magna Develops New Lightweight, Modular Seat Structure

Legal requirements, consumer ratings, market and technology trends like lightweight construction and e-mobility pose huge challenges to passive and active safety in vehicles. Magna International Inc., a global automotive supplier is headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, gives importance to achieve maximum safety.

- Bhargav TS

All the Magna group companies focus on safety as their priority. The company is a pioneer and world leader in camera-based driver assistance systems. It has been developing innovative driver-assistance systems for more than 25 years. Recently the Indian arm of Magna has developed a seat structure with wide range of advantages.

“All our group companies give more importance to safety. Our seating division has safety technologies and system to recognise driver drowsiness. In India we have developed a lightweight seat structure using high strength steel grades. Its modular structure has various features like 4-way manual, 6-way manual, and 8-way power. It is also scalable to meet regulatory and various OEM requirements and suits various vehicle configurations from small car to SUVs,” Deval M. Desai, Executive Director, Strategy and Planning, and Country Manager, India Magna International Inc., told Auto Components India.

Around 200 engineers in Magna’s Pune Tech Centre has developed this new seat structure which is safe and more comfortable. This new seat structure is being showcased to the customers and it is getting very good appreciation. The company has achieved significant weight reduction and many other benefits. “Re-engineering is the combination of clear joining techniques as well as the execution of the designs. When you are going from 1 generation to the other, a holistic view of how you are doing the design is important. We have the orders for production in a short period of time,” he said.