Canadian manufacturer for auto makers Magna has been awarded its first contract to deliver a reconfigurable seating system to a Chinese original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
This new seating system, which includes features like fully rotating front seats and long rails, is designed to provide a more flexible and spacious in-cabin experience.
The reconfigurable system integrates power swivel seats with nearly two meters of power long rails, shared by the front and rear rows and the center console. This setup enables a 270° rotation of both the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat.
The system increases the seat track articulation distance for both front and rear seats, designed for a tailored in-cabin experience.
For safety and flexibility, the seats come with integrated seatbelts designed to meet strength and adjustment requirements in various scenarios. Additionally, a universal magnetic interface on the back of the seat can connect to different external devices, expanding the functionality and entertainment options for passengers.
Magna’s engineering team in China collaborated closely with the OEM to tailor the seating system to the local automotive market. By incorporating customer-defined scenarios, the company localized application updates for the reconfigurable seating system. This included features for parenting, long-distance travel, camping and storage.
“The global mobility landscape is continuing to evolve, with vehicles increasingly becoming a flexible mobile living space for today’s road users,” said John Wyskiel, president of Magna Seating.
“With our strong R&D and innovation capabilities in China and around the world, we can respond quickly to the needs of our customers and create more localized innovative solutions to meet their expectations. The reconfigurable seating solution, which will be first applied in China, illustrates Magna’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology and addressing the evolving demands of the industry.”
The seating system will be manufactured at a Magna facility in China, with mass production for the Chinese market set to begin in Q4 2024.
