Adient, a leading global automotive seating supplier, reaffirmed its commitment to the Chinese market during an event at its China Technical Center in Chongqing on September 22. The gathering, led by Adient's global president and CEO Jerome Dorlack, chief legal and HR officer Heather Tiltmann, and Huang Jian, global executive vice president and president of Asia Pacific, celebrated three decades of operations in China and outlined plans to deepen its "in China, for the world" strategy.
Since entering China in 1996, Adient has witnessed and participated in the country's automotive evolution, from mass adoption to rapid growth and the current shift toward electrification and intelligent vehicles. Over the past 30 years, the company has adapted to local market needs, strengthened R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and launched innovative products, integrating deeply into China's automotive industry, according to First Electric (D1EV).
Dorlack said, "Thirty years ago, Adient began its journey in China with foresight, commitment, and strong confidence in the market. Since then, generations of Adient employees have worked together, laying a solid foundation, building long-term partnerships, and driving innovation. Looking ahead, I believe the most exciting chapters for Adient China are still ahead."
Today, Adient operates 39 modern production bases across 25 Chinese cities and three global-level technical centers, supplying seating system solutions to more than 40 domestic and international automakers. Huang Jian noted, "Thirty years is both a milestone and a new starting point. With the evolving Chinese automotive industry and our strengthening capabilities, Adient will build on this momentum with our customers, employees, and partners."
Innovation and smart manufacturing at the core
As the industry accelerates its electrification and intelligent transformation, Adient is upgrading its China R&D capabilities, shifting from local adaptation to a key global innovation hub. The China Technical Center focuses on seating comfort, intelligent connectivity, scenario reconfiguration, safety, and sustainability, having launched several industry-leading innovations.
The company is also deepening smart manufacturing, applying artificial intelligence, automation, and digital technologies across R&D, production, and operations to boost efficiency, quality, and performance. Wang Zhong, Adient's China seating vice president, said, "China is one of the most dynamic and fast-iterating core markets for automotive innovation. Thirty years of local innovation breakthroughs are the foundation for Adient to grow and lead. We will accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and transformation of innovations to provide differentiated value to customers and drive high-quality development of the automotive seating industry."
Adient's strategy aligns with China's push for high-end manufacturing and intelligent vehicles, positioning the company to support the industry's transformation. By leveraging its local R&D and production capabilities, Adient aims to serve global markets from China, reinforcing its competitive edge in the evolving automotive landscape.
