Lear Corporation, the leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, plans to construct a modern new and expanded Asia-Pacific regional headquarters and technology complex located in the Yangpu District of Shanghai, China.

Plans for the new building include expansion of the company’s administrative infrastructure, a new product and technology centre, industry-leading product development capabilities with state-of the-art engineering and testing equipment and a new Lear innovation studio for Asia. This new multi-storey centre will include approximately 28,000 square metres and support Lear’s continued rapid sales growth and development of new business in China and throughout Asia.

"The Asia-Pacific region is the most strategically important region for the global automotive industry, and Shanghai is a major centre for automotive activity. We are very pleased to be opening an expanded regional administrative and technical complex in Shanghai, as China is Lear’s fastest growing market, and our business in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly," said Matt Simoncini, Lear's president and CEO.

"Over the past three years, Lear's total sales in China have grown at an average annual rate of 17%. Our new regional headquarters complex in Shanghai will support industry-leading product development, testing and customer service in one convenient location that includes administrative, engineering, product development, program management, sales and marketing and other technical personnel."

The new Asia headquarters will support approximately 31,000 Lear employees in 11 countries in Asia including non-consolidated joint ventures, and almost 22,000 employees in China. Lear manufactures products in Asia at 64 locations and has engineering teams at 16 locations throughout the region. In 2015, Lear’s Asia consolidated sales grew to $3.2 billion. Lear also supports Asia through 10 non-consolidated joint ventures in the region. 2015 sales in these non-consolidated joint ventures were about $2 billion, bringing Lear's total sales in Asia last year to $5.2 billion.

Product portfolio showcase

The modern new facility for Lear's 800 Shanghai employees will showcase the company's leading products in automotive seating and electrical systems, including Lear’s intelligent seat, industry-leading craftsmanship as well as high power products for electrical and hybrid vehicles, industry-leading electrical distribution systems, including complex gateway modules and the latest in vehicle communication and connectivity capabilities.

"We continue to build upon our portfolio of industry-leading seating and electrical systems and related components," added Jay Kunkel, Lear's president of Asia-Pacific Operations. "We are pleased to announce plans for our new regional headquarters and are confident our expanded overall capabilities will continue to serve our existing and future customers at the highest level as we continue to develop new products for Asia as well as globally."

INTERVIEW: Jay K Kunkel, president (Asia-Pacific) and member, Executive Council, Lear Corp