Since the formation of Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) as the global leader in automotive interiors and the launch of its new brand entity in 2015, the company has worked extensively on its brand positioning, which is expressed by the new brand claim “EXPERIENCE IN MOTION.” The repositioning of YFAI‘s brand identity underscores the company’s ambition to drive, rather than react to, the significant shift in the automotive industry that is being shaped by global mega trends such as autonomous driving and new market players and technologies. The new brand positioning is the result of an extensive global research program with different internal and external stakeholder groups. It reflects the company’s vision to create a better life on board through superior automotive interior solutions and will more effectively communicate the company’s strategic direction.

A brand that creates the next living space
“I personally am very passionate about our brand positioning. We are the industry leader and the only global supplier to focus solely on automotive interiors,” said Johannes Roters, CEO of Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “The interior of the future is a combination of traditional interior parts and new, innovative materials and technologies, such as smart functional surfaces and adaptive interiors. By pursuing our holistic approach and leveraging our role as the leading total interior integrator, we are uniquely capable of bringing new technologies into almost every surface. With this, we are redefining the way people live inside their vehicles. We are the brand in the automotive interior business that creates the next living space, where look, feel and function are seamlessly integrated, creating end-user experiences that are both functional and emotional.”

YFAI looks to meet customers’ current needs, while simultaneously shaping the future of mobility and e-mobility. The strategy to achieve the company’s vision of tomorrow’s mobility, “a better life on board,” is twofold: Producing industry-leading interior components and modules while simultaneously integrating new, innovative technologies and seeking strategic partnerships that build on our current and future products and competencies. This results in decorative and smart surface integration solutions that create a new style, sensation and performance across instrument panels, floor consoles, door panels and overhead consoles.

The XiM18 demonstrates how “experience in motion” is realized in a vehicle, and brings the company´s “experience in motion” brand positioning to life. At this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), the XiM18 demonstrator vehicle showcases the company’s extensive integration capabilities and the next living space concept.

YFAI has several key capabilities, which help bring this vision and the new brand identity to life. “We are customer focused, driven by excellence in execution, innovative in everything we do, as well as focused on the development of ideas into new products and processes,” said Johannes Roters. “And finally, we are truly a global company.”

YFAIs brand design at the IAA
The research undertaken to build the brand identity has also led to the development and harmonization of different design elements, including a key visual that conveys the new brand identity. The new brand positioning will be represented visually through a combination of the logo and the new claim EXPERIENCE IN MOTION, thereby using a clear design language to express what YFAI stands for: A company that is redefining how people relax, work and play in their vehicle interiors, both today and decades from now. A company that creates a better life on board for tomorrow and today, keeping user experiences in motion.

Furthermore, specific brand themes like acceleration, experience, and transformation were identified and described as design elements for communication purposes. Following this process the brand design was redefined and realigned with the new brand positioning. YFAI’s booth at the IAA illustrates how innovative and fresh campaigns build a new, consistent and inspiring brand presentation, based on this solid foundation. The brand concept of this year’s IAA #NextLivingSpace follows the theme “Stop driving, start living” and will provide unexpected impressions with design elements and references normally encountered in interior architecture contexts. This also includes a key visual to convey the Next Living Space theme, along with the campaign hashtag #NextLivingSpace. With its presence at IAA, the company demonstrates how to go beyond traditional forms of mobility and look at the future while keeping user experiences in motion.

#ExperienceInMotion #NextLivingSpace

The global leader in automotive interiors, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), will unveil its eXperience in Motion (XiM18) vehicle interior concept at the upcoming IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, from September 12 to 24, 2017. Featuring over 30 innovative product and process solutions for next-generation electric and autonomous cars, the concept demonstrates how people will experience vehicle interiors in the future.

The global leader in automotive interiors, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), will unveil its eXperience in Motion (XiM18) vehicle interior concept at the upcoming IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, from September 12 to 24, 2017. Featuring over 30 innovative product and process solutions for next-generation electric and autonomous cars, the concept demonstrates how people will experience vehicle interiors in the future.

Today, increasing connectivity as well as new forms of car ownership and mobility (such as e-cars, autonomous driving and car sharing) are rapidly changing perceptions of transportation. On top of these global megatrends, non-traditional automakers are entering the market and radically changing the face of mobility. In response, YFAI is presenting advances that create completely new options for in-vehicle engagement.

“XiM18 is our answer to the question, what will people do in their vehicles when they no longer have to drive?” said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer at YFAI. “In the future, the car will become the next living space. The XiM18 exemplifies the way people will be able to relax, work and play in their cars today and for decades to come. In meeting the requirements for electric vehicles and autonomous driving going forward, our new generation concept is testimony to our leadership in interior design,” Hendriks said.

Featuring various driving modes, the concept shows how functionality will change in future car interiors, offering greater personal space and the flexibility to suit every lifestyle.

Alongside the forward-looking interior concept, YFAI’s display in Frankfurt will showcase numerous other product innovations – including lightweight structures, adaptive elements and smart surfaces – proving that the company is at the forefront of car2human interaction.

Adaptability is key to the YFAI vision for vehicles as tomorrow’s living spaces. It will be represented at IAA by consumer-focused instrument panels, personal electronics management, slim air vents and floor console solutions, including a concept made from real glass and based on a 3D center stack with integrated HMI technologies. Through reductions in weight, YFAI’s door and instrument panels as well the CHyM portfolio enhance efficiency in vehicles with standard or advanced alternative powertrains.

Innovations in decorative trim and lighting as well as surfaces and skins round out the company’s industry-leading interiors portfolio on show in Frankfurt.

The XiM18 will be officially unveiled at a press conference at the YFAI booth (Hall 5.1, B26) between 11:00 and 11:25 a.m. on September 13, 2017. 

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), the global leader in automotive interiors, will unveil its eXperience in Motion (XiM18) vehicle interior concept, at the upcoming IAA International Motor Show from September 12-24, 2017 in Frankfurt, Germany. Featuring more than 30 innovative product and process solutions for the next generation of electric and autonomous driving cars, the concept demonstrates the way people will experience vehicle interiors in future. In different interior driving modes of the vehicle, the company is presenting the next living space where look, feel and function are seamlessly integrated.

The new concept „eXperience in Motion“(XiM18) from Yanfeng Automotive Interiors shows in various driving modes how interior functionality inside the vehicle will fundamentally change.

Increasing connectivity and new forms of car ownership and mobility such as e-cars, autonomous driving, or car sharing are now rapidly changing perceptions of transportation and mobility. Considering all these global megatrends in addition to non-traditional automakers who are radically changing the face of mobility, YFAI presents advancements which enable completely new ways of in-vehicle engagement.

“With our XiM18, we answer the question of what will people do in their vehicle, if they no longer have to drive?" said Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer for YFAI. “In the future, if the driver no longer has to drive, the car will become the next living space. The XiM18 exemplifies how we are redefining the way people can relax, work and play in their car today and decades from now. Our new generation concept shows how we lead interior design and our solution to future requirements for electric vehicles and autonomous driving.”

The concept shows in various driving modes how interior functionality inside the vehicle will fundamentally change and provides a new range of flexibility to fulfill lifestyle needs and provide more personal space and quality time to relax, work or simply watch a movie. It also demonstrates YFAI’s total interior integration capabilities.

The forward-looking interior concept, as well as numerous other product innovations, such as functional surfaces or a real glass center stack, prove that the company is at the forefront of defining car2human interaction.

From lightweight structures to smart and adaptive functions

Highlights which YFAI is showcasing at this year’s IAA include smart and functional surfaces. These include a floor console concept based on a 3D, real glass center stack and integrated HMI technologies, or smart skin surfaces with a soft fabric feel. In terms of adaptive interiors, YFAI is showcasing instrument panels with consumer focus, personal electronics management, slim air vents, and floor console solutions, designing the next living space for a better life on board.

Further points which prove YFAI’s technological capabilities include lightweight door and instrument panels, the CHyM portfolio, advanced injection molding and EcoCor solutions. With these technologies, the company offers solutions that reduce weight and boost efficiency for vehicles with standard or alternative powertrains. Innovations in decorative trim and lighting, surfaces and skins complete the company’s industry-leading interiors portfolio presented in Frankfurt.

The XiM18 will be officially unveiled in a press conference on September 13, 2017, 11:00-11:25 a.m., at the YFAI booth (hall 5.1, B26).

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) has developed a new heated armrest for door panels. Comfort, personalization, energy efficiency and production flexibility drove the development of this new generation of heated armrests. Thinner and lighter weight than comparable products currently on the market, the heated armrest provides benefits in terms of energy efficiency. With this the company can offer automakers a cost-effective feature which can easily be integrated into existing door panel production lines.

Even with the heat on full speed, you can still feel uncomfortable in the car – especially on cold winter days. The cold air outside and inside the vehicle leave us shivering when getting into the car, even with a warm jacket. In order to enhance the comfort factor inside the car, YFAI has redefined heated armrest technology for door panels.

The heated armrest uses a panel heating technology system. Panel heating systems are not only extremely comfortable, but also highly energy efficient. The heat they produce reaches passengers more directly and quickly than the heat emitted by conventional vehicle HVAC systems. As a result, the driver can lower the heat coming from the HVAC system when using the heated armrest. 

The new heated armrest is ready for series production. The functional panel can easily be integrated into the existing door panel production process. This solution is cost-effective, as it uses the same equipment, foam carrier and materials as conventional, unheated armrests. Therefore, heated armrests can be produced on the same production line as conventional armrests in a single just-in-sequence process. 

Energy-efficient comfort, also for e-mobility applications
Significantly lighter in weight and thinner than the solutions currently on the market, the innovative heating foil requires less energy for improved efficiency. 

“Our vision with this product was to offer increased comfort during the winter months. The new heated armrest can be integrated into all door panels in the vehicle,” said Han Hendriks, vice president Advanced Product Development & Sales at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “With this innovation, we also are responding to increased demand for new kinds of comfort solutions in the vehicle.”

The technology also can be integrated into floor console armrests in addition to door panels. The heated armrest is also an ideal heating source for use in electric cars, as the power is supplied electrically.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, the world’s largest supplier of automotive interiors, is presenting a new direct back-foaming process for genuine or synthetic leather instrument panels at the 2015 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The optimized, streamlined production process from Yanfeng Automotive Interiors ensures the high-quality leather wrapping of instrument panels. This means that in the future, leather-wrapped and conventionally covered instrument panel surfaces can be handled on just one production line using the same tool. This production process can also be applied to door panels. 

Leather-wrapped instrument panels can now be manufactured on one production line, where other surface materials such as conventional skins also can be back-foamed. By introducing this new production process for making leather-wrapped instrument panels – whether genuine or synthetic – Yanfeng Automotive Interiors can reduce the amount of tools used in the future by 50 percent. The company is therefore not only reducing tooling and process costs, but also facilitating and increasing the potential for customization in cockpit production.

Genuine leather, synthetic leather, thermoplastic polyolefins and slush skins have become standard surface materials in cockpit production. The different surface concepts have led to multiple-stage production processes. Each variety requires a specific tool, which results in high processing costs. This is where Yanfeng Automotive Interiors’ new production process for direct back-foaming of leather comes in as a standardized solution for producing conventional and leather-wrapped instrument panels. Both versions are identical in shape and exhibit the same component thickness in both basic synthetic and premium leather versions, making this possible. Regardless of whether synthetic or genuine leather is used to finish the instrument panel, the production process is the same.

Direct back-foaming of leather – an automotive industry first

The process of direct back-foaming involves back-foaming the sewn covering directly with polyurethane (PUR) foam. To prevent the PUR foam from passing through the small sewing holes, the sewn covering is coated with a thin film on the back. This procedure enables the sewn covering and the film to be inserted into the foam tool and back-foamed in one step. 

“We managed to optimize the combination of leather covering, pre-formed film and foam to achieve an all-round, premium-quality surface. We were also able to improve the quality of the leather covering and precision of the visible stitching to an unprecedented level,” said Dr. Oliver M. Becker, executive director, process innovation, Advanced Product Development & Sales, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “The spotlight is on the flawless appearance and feel of the leather covering, which shows no signs of seam line disturbance or of the “orange peel effect” in the leather grain, which is a common flaw today.” 

This patent-pending production process is now ready for series production.

Three-dimensional reliefs thanks to leather molding

In addition to the back-foaming process for leather, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is also developing a new leather component production process. This process involves inserting precut, uncoated leather into a back-molding tool and injection mold behind it with thermoplastic. The high internal mold pressure enables the leather to be shaped three-dimensionally and embossed with a pattern. This creates highly defined surface structures and patterns. Once back-molded, the component is lacquered. The result is a hard leather covered surface with extraordinary reliefs.

“From a technical perspective, creativity has no bounds when it comes to combining colors and materials,” said Becker. “However, this creates price-driven obstacles in cockpit production. The main issue for suppliers is how much variety can be produced economically, which is a challenge we aim to resolve through continuous process innovation.” 

Even with the heat on full speed, you can still feel uncomfortable in the car – especially on cold winter days. The cold air outside and inside the vehicle leave us shivering when getting into the car, even with a warm jacket. In order to enhance the comfort factor inside the car, YFAI has redefined heated armrest technology for door panels. The heated armrest uses a panel heating technology system. Panel heating systems are not only extremely comfortable, but also highly energy efficient.

Even with the heat on full speed, you can still feel uncomfortable in the car – especially on cold winter days. The cold air outside and inside the vehicle leave us shivering when getting into the car, even with a warm jacket. In order to enhance the comfort factor inside the car, YFAI has redefined heated armrest technology for door panels. The heated armrest uses a panel heating technology system. Panel heating systems are not only extremely comfortable, but also highly energy efficient. The heat they produce reaches passengers more directly and quickly than the heat emitted by conventional vehicle HVAC systems. As a result, the driver can lower the heat coming from the HVAC system when using the heated armrest.  The new heated armrest is ready for series production. The functional panel can easily be integrated into the existing door panel production process. This solution is cost-effective, as it uses the same equipment, foam carrier and materials as conventional, unheated armrests. Therefore, heated armrests can be produced on the same production line as conventional armrests in a single just-in-sequence process.  Energy-efficient comfort, also for e-mobility applications Significantly lighter in weight and thinner than the solutions currently on the market, the innovative heating foil requires less energy for improved efficiency. “Our vision with this product was to offer increased comfort during the winter months. The new heated armrest can be integrated into all door panels in the vehicle,” said Han Hendriks, vice president Advanced Product Development & Sales at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “With this innovation, we also are responding to increased demand for new kinds of comfort solutions in the vehicle.” The technology also can be integrated into floor console armrests in addition to door panels. The heated armrest is also an ideal heating source for use in electric cars, as the power is supplied electrically.  

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), the world’s leading supplier of instrument panels and cockpit systems, door panels, floor consoles and overhead consoles, will establish a new manufacturing site in Planá nad Luznici, Czech Republic. Construction work on the new plant will start soon. Operational start is planned by early 2018. The company plans to create about 300 new jobs in the region.

“With our new location in South Bohemia, we are responding to market demand and our customers’ increasing presence in Eastern Europe,” said Jochen Heier, vice president and general manager, Europe & South Africa at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. 

On around 20,000-square-meter production area the company will manufacture interior components, including instrument panels and door panels, for future models of different customers. The plant will be set up to adapt flexibly to the capacity requirements of YFAI and its customers and enable the company to respond to continued growth in the automotive market. 

The new plant in the South Bohemian region is not YFAI’s first presence in the Czech Republic; the company already operates a plant in Zatec, as well as other sites in Slovakia and Hungary in Eastern Europe. With the new plant in Planá YFAI will reinforce its production network in the Eastern European growth markets, while maintaining a strong and dedicated presence in Western Europe. 

For the new site the company is looking for technical and managerial employees, but also offering a lot of open positions for various functions in production, engineering, logistics, quality, finance, HR and many others. Open positions for the new plant in Planá are posted at: http://www.yfai-careers-ce.eu/.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors opens new production plant in the Czech Republic.
 
As the market leader in global automotive interiors, we have very strong business growth now and in the future. We decided to further invest in our European locations and our manufacturing network in the Czech Republic.
We are pleased to celebrate the grand opening of our new plant in Planá nad Lužnicí today,” said Johannes Roters, Chief Executive Officer for YFAI.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors opens new production plant in the Czech Republic.
 
As the market leader in global automotive interiors, we have very strong business growth now and in the future. We decided to further invest in our European locations and our manufacturing network in the Czech Republic.
We are pleased to celebrate the grand opening of our new plant in Planá nad Lužnicí today,” said Johannes Roters, Chief Executive Officer for YFAI.
The new production plant in South Bohemia is established in Planá nad Lužnicí – near to Tabor. With its high-tech manufacturing equipment and operational expertise, the plant will produce instrument panels and door panels for passenger cars. “With Planá nad Lužnicí we have set up additional capacity to our existing production network with state-of-the-art technology in Eastern Central Europe. We will now gradually start to ramp up production and will be able to robustly start operations and mass production by early 2018,” said Jochen Heier, Vice President & General Manager Europe & South Africa for YFAI.
During today’s opening celebration and ribbon-cutting event, YFAI’s global management was joined by Czech political and public stakeholders and automotive industry representatives.
The Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and guest of honor,
H.E. Mrs MA Keqing, stated in her speech, “Successful business relations depend on a variety of economic and political factors. We appreciate the stable relations between the Czech Republic and the People’s Republic of China, which allows companies to expand and grow, combining the best of both countries.”
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is an attractive and important employer in the region
With production ramping up in the next months, YFAI will become one of the largest employers in the Tabor region. The company already has 170 employees on board at its new plant and will gradually increase the number of employees to 300 by the beginning of 2018.
In the CEE region, the new plant in Planá nad Lužnicí follows the extension of the company’s Technical Center in Trenčín, Slovakia, and the opening of the Automotive Business Center in Bratislava (SK) a few weeks ago. In addition to these three locations, the company has a plant in Žatec, for the manufacture of door panels, floor consoles and other automotive interior components in the Czech Republic, as well as production sites in Pápa (HU) and Námestovo (SK). With these existing sites and the new plant which is being constructed in Planá nad Lužnicí (CZ), the company can meet all customer requirements in the CEE region and support the company’s growth plans in Europe.

Yesterday, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) presented its annual European Supplier Awards to 15 suppliers for their outstanding achievements at the Classic Remise in Düsseldorf.

"Our suppliers play an important role in our success. We are pleased to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our suppliers with this award," said James Bos, vice president Global Procurement at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. Factors for the award include quality, costs, logistics, development, technology and service. Depending on the total points earned, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors presented the suppliers with either a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze Supplier Performance Award. This year, eight companies who provide plastics, resins, chemicals, foams, indirect packaging, trim and metal components received the Supplier Performance Award.

The Platinum Performance Award was presented to IZO-BLOK S.A., an expert in the processing of foamed plastics. They provide Yanfeng Automotive Interiors with foamed polypropylene (EPP). The Silver Performance Award went to SABIC Innovative Plastics GmbH, a manufacturer of chemical products, plastics and metals. The Bronze Award was presented to BASF Polyurethanes GmbH, Eurofoam Deutchland GmbH, A. Raymond GmbH & Co. KG, TR Fastenings Ltd., Coatex NV and J.H. Ziegler GmbH.

Ten suppliers received Leadership Award

Key criteria for the Leadership Award were factors critical to the company's success, such as sustainability, innovation, quality, customer satisfaction, global growth and continuous improvement in performance.

This year, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors honored ten suppliers with the Leadership Award. MacAuto Industrial Co., Ltd. from Taiwan and A. Raymond GmbH & Co. KG from Germany were presented with the Quality award.

The recipients of the Leadership Award for continuous improvement in performance were Xinpoint Corporation from China, TRICOR Packaging & Logistics AG and Polyvlies - Franz Beyer GmbH, both from Germany.

In addition to the Platinum Supplier Performance Award, the Polish company IZO-BLOK S.A. also received the Leadership Award in the Customer Satisfaction category. IZO-BLOK S.A. was honored with this award for its proactive support for project start-ups and the optimal structure of its supply chain. Further awards in the Customer Satisfaction category went to Everwill Industries Ltd. from China, ITW Automotive Release & Trim from Germany and Coatex NV from Belgium, who each received a Bronze Supplier Performance Award.

The supplier IEE S.A. from Luxembourg, an innovative developer of specialized sensor systems, was presented with the Leadership Award in the Innovation category. Together with the Yanfeng Automotive Interiors innovations team, the supplier developed the heated armrest for door panels.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), the world's largest supplier of automotive interiors, is focusing on greater differentiation in interior design. The company will showcase its design and engineering expertise in door panels with product debuts that enable optical accentuation of the vehicle interior. At the International Motor Show (IAA), YFAI will present prototypes of decorative fabric and leather door panels to showcase its innovative integration of light guides for ambient lighting into large-scale surfaces. The new light guides for ambient lighting are not only decorative, but also help to display vehicle status messages.

Unique designs and customized vehicle interiors are the latest trend. Elaborate product designs customized specifically for a particular target group are included in the list of features provided in vehicles from basic to premium vehicle classes. Thanks to innovative new technology, YFAI now offers door panels in any design specification, leaving nothing to be desired where customization options, aesthetics, functionality and ergonomics are concerned.

Custom illumination on fabrics and perforated leather

With distinct light effects in any color or shape, YFAI is able to illuminate unique fabric patterns directly or to backlight perforated leather surfaces in its new door panels in a manner that is visually appealing. The company combines its manufacturing expertise in the field of surface finishing with the latest findings in consumer research and design excellence. The results are versatile, sophisticated surfaces created using ambient lighting for the next generation of vehicles.

The new technology is made possible by directly incorporating light guides into a lightweight support fabric combined with LEDs. This enables large-scale illumination with maximum design freedom. The thin material fitted with light guides forms a surface that is then used as a backlighting solution. Compared to the alternative flat lighting options, the YFAI solution offers a weight reduction of up to 25 percent with this process. LEDs are an effective light technology, guaranteeing long service life and high color intensity. The illuminated door panel surfaces fulfill a functional purpose as well: the full-scale ambient lighting structures and visualizes vehicle status messages, such as red for the transition from self-controlled to autonomous driving mode and blue for relaxed autonomous driving.

New opportunities for distinctive interiors

"We strive to make the time spent in the vehicle as useful as possible. The new light guide technology offers our designers maximum design freedom to incorporate the technology into unique patterned fabrics or perforated leather surfaces in order to create a distinctive atmosphere and to also accentuate large surfaces," said Han Hendriks, vice president Advanced Product Development & Sales at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. "Our goal is to offer unique interior designs even in basic class vehicle categories using effective light guide ambient lighting. Good design should not be a question of vehicle size: we want to also facilitate premium comfort in the small and medium class vehicle segments."

The surface designs ensure the "wow" effect. Individually woven fabric patterns are instantly illuminated as distinctively as backlit perforated leather. There are essentially no limits to the creativity in interior design. The technology can be implemented universally, making it just as suitable for customizing instrument panels.

Please visit the Yanfeng Automotive Interiors media microsite for the IAA 2015 for additional images: http://iaa2015-media.yfai.com