Autoliv Inc., a worldwide leader in automotive safety, has agreed to acquire North American airbag, seatbelt and steering wheel assets from Delphi.
Earlier this year, Delphi announced that it planned to exit its Occupant Protection Safety (OPS) business in North America, Europe and Asia by December 31, 2009. Under the terms of the agreement, Autoliv will acquire Delphi’s steering wheel operations in Matamoros, Mexico. These operations are considered “world class” in the automotive and heavy truck industry. Delphi’s North American airbag and seatbelt assets will be consolidated into existing Autoliv facilities. This transition is expected to occur during the next several months.
“We are particularly excited to have the opportunity to improve our vertical integration capability and competence in steering wheels in North America. The agreement also gives us an opportunity to provide our customers a seamless transition in supply of airbags and seatbelts, as our own plants already are important suppliers to these customers,” stated Jan Carlson, CEO and president of Autoliv.
Existing customers include General Motors, Hyundai, Ford, Daimler and Navistar with expected combined sales of approximately US$125 Million in 2010. The transaction is expected to close by December 31, 2009.
About Autoliv
Autoliv Inc. develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv has 80 facilities with approximately 36,000 employees in 28 vehicle-producing countries. In addition, the company has technical centers in 11 countries around the world, with 21 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales in 2008 amounted to US$6.5 billion.
About Delphi
Delphi is a leading global supplier of electronics and technologies for autos, commercial and other vehicles. Delphi Automotive has more than 100,000 employees in 32 countries at 270 locations and 24 engineering centers.