For the company's long-term development needs, Mr. Zang Chungao has succeeded Mr. Lu Kai as the General Manager of Yanfeng International and will fully lead the operations of Yanfeng’s various businesses.

Since joining Yanfeng in 2001, Mr. Zang Chungao has served in key management positions in the seating segment such as program management, quality, operation, procurement, and other key areas. He has accumulated profound business operations experience and overall management abilities, especially in strategy deployment, operations optimization and business management with keen market insight and strong strategic decision-making capabilities. He has successfully accelerated the seating business to build up comprehensive capabilities and our strategic layout globally, and realized the rapid expansion and steady growth of the business scale. In 2022, Mr. Zang Chungao was promoted to Deputy General Manager of Yanfeng, and led a series of important tasks such as the construction of the global supply chain system, promotion of product and technology innovation, and in-depth optimization of the program management system, which laid a solid foundation for Yanfeng's sustainable growth.

Mr. Zang, with his broad global vision and keen industry perspective, will lead Yanfeng in spite of market challenges and actively promote innovation, improve operational efficiency and strive to provide more value to our customers.

Automotive supplier Yanfeng has developed a new sustainable seat – the Reco Seat. From the materials used to the reduced product carbon footprint, this seat from Yanfeng promises to redefine eco-friendly cabin solutions and marks a major step in the company’s sustainability strategy. Utilizing innovative and recycled materials, from foam to the steel frame, the Reco Seat reduces product carbon emissions by up to 40% compared to conventional seating.

A major milestone in Yanfeng’s sustainability strategy

Reco, which stands for Recycle + Eco, represents significant progress towards the company’s climate goals. These goals include the use of recycled raw materials and lightweight components to significantly reduce corporate carbon emissions and the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

“We are committed to providing innovative and sustainable cabin solutions and the development of the new Reco Seat is an important milestone in our sustainability strategy and our contribution to the limitation of global warming to 1.5°C in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement,” said Uwe Borchers, Vice President, General Manager Yanfeng Seating, Europe & South Africa.

Innovative, eco-friendly materials

A focus area of Yanfeng's sustainability strategy is the use of innovative, sustainable materials. The Reco Seat features several materials, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyurethan (PU) trim, recycled foam, thermoplastic foam, a green steel frame, a PET lightweight back panel, and hybrid cushion.

The PET PU seat cover is made from 100% recycled soft drink bottles, reducing product carbon emissions by more than 20%. The foam used in the Reco Seat for the seat and backrest is also environmentally friendly.

Recycled and thermoplastic foam are combined to provide improved seating comfort and support compared to conventional polyurethane foam.

Furthermore, the use of industrial wastewater steam in the foam production and molding process significantly reduces energy consumption and emissions.

Significant reduction of product carbon emissions thanks to recycled steel and green energy

Through Yanfeng’s cooperation with a steel company, the Reco Seat offers a significant reduction of the product carbon emissions. The use of up to 100% scrap steel as the raw material, together with green electricity for the production of the recycled steel frame, reduces the product carbon footprint by over 60%. The seat pan is made from high-strength recycled plastic instead of a traditional metal seat pan, achieving Yanfeng’s goal of replacing steel with plastic.

The seat back panel uses recycled PET to achieve a lightweight and dynamic styling that is also sustainable. In addition, the hybrid cushion uses high strength-recycled composites instead of metal which reduces the PCF by 20% and allows for a wider choice of surface treatment techniques.

“The Reco Seat is currently in the development stage and for us it is a great product example to demonstrate our competencies and start discussions with our customers about sustainability and circularity. Together with our seating engineering and innovation teams we are developing sustainable solutions for the next vehicle generation,” added Borchers.

At CES, Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier, introduced a new generation of its Hover Seat, with Seat Sensing Posture ID technology that adds new levels of comfort.

The seat based on zero gravity research, by detecting the occupant’s body language, such as seating position, level of fatigue, and body type actively releases fatigue for passengers throughout the ride and to improve the driving experience.

Adaptive Welcome Mode for Different Body Types
When a passenger gets into the car, the pressure pad sensors accurately recognize information about the body type and automatically adjust the headrest, lumbar support and side wings to make the seat closely fit to the body.

Seating Position Recognition and Fitting
The sensor determines the seating posture of the occupant based on the pressure distribution to the seat.  Equipped with a matrix of multi-faceted support blocks, the seat automatically adjusts the blocks to give comfortable support to the body where needed.

Fatigue Detection and Automatic Massage
The seat detects the occupant changing their posture over time, then determines the degree and location of fatigue, and automatically triggers the partition massage function.

In addition, when driving or riding for an extended period and needing to stop and rest, the seat features weightless relaxation in Zero Gravity mode, which allows passengers to recline the seat up to 126° (angle torso to thighs) at the touch of a button. The backrest can be fully reclined, creating a feeling of weightlessness that allows passengers to unwind.  

“Yanfeng has taken the Hover Seat to new levels of comfort with the Seat Sensing Posture ID technology,” said Patrick Nebout, CTO of Yanfeng Technology. “The seat will actively provide tailored comfort adjustments for users with different body types and sitting postures and will actively alleviate passenger fatigue and enhance the travel experience.”

The next generation of the Hover Seat can also integrate features from the first generation. This includes optional functions including seat heating and ventilation, or an electric four-way adjustable headrest, integrated sound system, and others. 

As with the original version, the functionality of the seat can be tailored to automaker needs, such as the choice of rotation, horizontal movement, manual or electric long rails.

Yanfeng is setting new standards in design and production with the modular steering wheel concept ClickRim, which is making its debut at the 2024 CES. Whether fabric, leather, artificial leather, or any other wrapped or molded materials – these surface materials of the steering wheel can be individually tailored to meet specific requirements thanks to the changeable segments. This steering wheel is more than just a design feature however, as all components used are also recyclable.

The production of a steering wheel is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. It takes approximately 60 minutes on average to manufacture one steering wheel. The wrapping process accounts for most of this production time because traditional steering wheels are wrapped using a complex, manual process. This involves applying a foam coating to the metal skeleton of the steering wheel, followed by bonding a heating mat and finally the wrapping of the surface material. Each and every step, no matter how small, requires precise manual processing.

From manual production to a fully automated process

The ClickRim modular steering wheel concept involves the development of individual segments or half shells that are clipped onto the steering wheel rim and connected to each other. Anything is possible – whether there are two, three or four shells, alternating between wood and leather, fabric or natural fibers. The highlight: all the lighting and hands-off detection functions, as well as the heating mat, are pre-assembled and integrated directly into the shells.

Yanfeng has made this possible through a new manufacturing process that combines two production steps. The company has developed a process in which the shells are wrapped fully automatically with spacer fabrics and leather. The injection-molded part is already wrapped with the spacer fabric and fitted with the heating mat. The automaker's logo or the vehicle model branding can also be integrated directly into the shell during the wrapping process. The decorative or connecting seams on the steering wheel cover are no longer required – but could be added if required.

The overall complexity of the steering wheel product scope is also significantly reduced.

“Our new automated wrapping process allows us to save around two-thirds of the conventional production time for each steering wheel while maintaining efficient costs,” said Patrick Nebout, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology.

The company's innovation team worked cross-functionally across Germany, North America and China on the development of the concept for this new, modular steering wheel.

“Through the cross-business unit collaboration between our interior, electronics and passive safety product departments, we are able to rethink and reorganize processes,” added Nebout.

ClickRim is part of Yanfeng's Circular Steering Wheel

Recycling and maintenance of steering wheels has previously been somewhat complex. Thanks to the modular design of the new steering wheel, the individual components can be disassembled easily and returned to the material cycle. The metal armature, the spacer fabrics as well as the surface materials used can all be recycled.

“With each new development, we are faced with the challenge of taking a holistic view of a product's life cycle – from the product design to the manufacture and use of the product at the end of its life, right through to the return of individual materials into the cycle,” Nebout said.

The use of spacer fabrics instead of conventional foam in the wrapping process for steering wheels will enable Yanfeng to reduce CO2 emissions by 1.0 kg per steering wheel.

The new steering wheel has passed all standard prototype tests, including head impact and body block tests. ClickRim is aimed at the premium and mid-range segment. This close-to-series concept development is ready to be used in the next generation of vehicles in model year 2025.

At this year’s CES, Yanfeng unveiled its CYMATICX sound flow cabin, expanding from physical product offerings to immersive audio experiences for vehicle interior spaces.  Based on the new self-developed OURANOS Sound Domain Controller platform, CYMATICX integrates a variety of innovative acoustic technologies such as HOLOSOUND immersive audio, somatosensory augmented sound, SONIX acoustic follower algorithms, and special flexible thin film transducers.

Over the past few years, there has been a boom in smart cabin technology, especially in cabin audio. Since 2019, Yanfeng has been exploring the field of cabin audio and successfully incubated the cabin audio product line from scratch.

"Cabin audio is a core product for Yanfeng's smart cabin strategy,” said Ni Jiawen, Chief Technology Officer of Yanfeng and General Manager of Yanfeng’s Tech Center. “We have been committed to creating a breakthrough cabin audio experience for many years. This time with CYMATICX, we have integrated the latest innovations together with our partners, opening up a new perspective on sound design and cabin audio management, and realizing the true reproduction of sound through a series of audio technologies and algorithms.”

The development of CYMATICX takes into account all aspects of sound generation, transmission, reception and perception, integrating acoustics, physics, psychology and other disciplines. CYMATICX features the groundbreaking SONIX dynamic sound algorithm, which adjusts the sound output in real time according to the position and dynamics of the sound object. By generating clearer and more accurate object audio and reconstructing the sound field energy, it provides passengers with a more realistic, immersive, and differentiable multi-point experience. It can also quickly determine the direction of warning sources while driving and supporting safe driving.

CYMATICX incorporates HOLOSOUND, one of only two immersive audio technologies that meets Hollywood standards, integrating a three-dimensional layout, point source, and spatial continuity of multi-channel immersive audio reproduction, it provides users with a comprehensive and authentic 3D audio experience. It is also equipped with sensory enhancement technology, which is an innovation of sound transmission that allows users to perceive sound not only through their ears but also through their bodies by interacting with other interior surfaces and seats, therefore getting a more immersive cabin experience.

The development of CYMATICX has received strong technical support from partners and industry leading audio companies ADI and OpenAudio, with whom Yanfeng announced strategic partnerships with recently.

The powertrains of electric vehicles have undergone a complete transformation - but the interior has not changed substantially. Interiors of EV's have largely resembled their gas-powered counterparts, until now.

At the 2024 CES, Yanfeng debuted its EVI (Electric Vehicle Interior) concept. This is a vision for future vehicle architecture, that eliminates the traditional instrument panel, and incorporates all key features and interior functions into a Smart Cabin seat, including an active headrest with integrated audio, safety systems, smart surfaces, and storage and charging integrated into the seat.

Through the development of EVI and the Smart Cabin Seat, Yanfeng's experts challenged themselves to simplify the vehicle interior while keeping the functionality that users expect. The Yanfeng solution builds them back in a unique way, in an all new module that incorporates both front seats, integrated floor console, steer-by-wire input system, HMI, displays, seatbelts and airbags, in addition to a HVAC microclimate system for thermal comfort.

Research shows three areas of EV owner interest:

Over the years, Yanfeng has conducted multiple studies on electric vehicle interiors. Yanfeng’s research has consistently shown three areas where EV owners (and those interested in EVs) want more. First, end users interested in EVs want access to more technology. They expect an electric vehicle to have more and different/unique technology than an ICE vehicle. Additionally, end users interested in EVs expect smooth and seamless experiences with technology. It needs to work as well, or better, than what they have today and should be used to provide feedback and information to the user that builds trust in the electric vehicle, especially important to first time EV users. Finally, many end users are open to, and looking for EVs to provide a fun and enjoyable experience, something different than in an ICE - technology is something that can help deliver this. Yanfeng’s User Experience Research team also cnducted research with end users using an early concept of the EVI demonstrator, bringing in research participants and allowing them to experience the reimagined vehicle interior firsthand. Findings from this research showed end users appreciated the dramatically different layout and interior spaciousness of the EVI concept.

Simplified assembly process:

Not only does EVI offer a new interior space for occupants, it also has the potential to simplify the vehicle assembly process for automotive manufacturers. With all key cockpit components integrated into the Smart Cabin Seat, installation into the vehicle is easier, faster, and less costly than conventional assembly. This is enabled by Yanfeng's cross-business capabilities, combining knowledge and experience across all its product categories: electronics, safety systems, seating, and interiors.

Sustainability Solutions:

With key vehicle control and interface elements integrated into the Smart Cabin Seat, the need for a traditional Instrument Panel is eliminated. This enables reduced overall vehicle weight and CO2 emissions, as well as increased efficiency, and promotes extended EV range. The ease of installation of the Smart Cabin Seat bodes well for an End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) strategy as well, making it just as easy for disassembly to boost vehicle circularity efforts. Furthermore, the EVI exemplifies Yanfeng’s commitment to sustainability through careful consideration of chosen materials and manufacturing processes. This includes the use of sustainable, high performing cover stock materials that are combined with Yanfeng’s CHyM substrate panels which use renewable fibers to create a lightweight and circular solution.

Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier, and TactoTek, a pioneer and leader in smart surface technologies, will collaborate on the development of highly integrated Human Machine Interface (HMI) solutions for future Smart Cabin applications. The goal of this partnership is to combine advanced lighting, user interfaces, as well as various decorative trim with a deeply integrated product approach that enables exceptional design flexibility.

Yanfeng has made the strategic decision to integrate TactoTek's Injection Molded Structural Electronics (IMSE) portfolio as a technological layer in its worldwide Smart Cabin business. The intention is to enhance the overall user experience by offering advanced lighting features and introducing new functional elements like HMI, haptic feedback, and display integration.

This approach enables Yanfeng to align with emerging automotive industry trends, including autonomous driving, and addresses non-driving related tasks (NDRTs), thereby shaping the future of Smart Cabins and redefining the driving experience.

This collaboration strives to create a unique in-vehicle user experience by accelerating seamless lighting integration into all surfaces of future vehicle interiors. The IMSE technology offers a fresh unique design and styling principles for slim, compact configurations and unconventional shapes.

“The partnership with TactoTek is a great addition to support our global technology portfolio for future Smart Cabin applications and is designed for long-term engagement. Together we can offer innovative and integrated lighting solutions tailored to our customers’ needs in the automotive industry,” said Patrick Nebout, Chief Technology Officer at Yanfeng Technology. “By combining our expertise, we can accelerate design and development activities, providing advantages for our customers along the entire value chain.”

“Yanfeng's leading role in the industry is crucial to the rapid transformation of the automotive sector. With our IMSE technology platform, we aim for this partnership to seamlessly merge the visual appeal, tactile experience, and functionality of vehicle interiors. Together, we are creating experiences for the end user that go beyond pure functionality – they are emotionally engaging, and define the essence of future mobility," said Dr. Thomas Vetter, Senior Vice President of Global Automotive at TactoTek.
 

About TactoTek
TactoTek Oy (Oulu, Finland), is the world leader in developing and licensing injection-molded smart structure technologies. Automotive, aviation, connected home, industrial control and medical brands use TactoTek innovations to create next-generation user experiences that are compelling, differentiated, and more sustainable. Designers use TactoTek IP to integrate circuits and components directly into plastic parts, transforming conventional structures into smart interactive surfaces. TactoTek licenses its intellectual property, including over 220 patents and critical know-how developed over a decade of intensive R&D and quality testing, to global manufacturers who use reliable, standardized manufacturing processes to produce curved-shape and conformal electronics.
Learn more at www.tactotek.com

Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier, will display its latest seating, interiors, electronics, and safety systems innovations at the 2024 CES in Las Vegas in January. This is the first time Yanfeng has exhibited at the show.

Highlights of the company’s exhibit in the West Hall include:

• EVI: The powertrains of electric vehicles have undergone a complete transformation – but the interior has not changed substantially. Interiors in gas and electric vehicles have remained mostly the same, until now. This interior concept offers quicker assembly time and a more centralized electrical architecture, enabled by combining Yanfeng’s capabilities in seating, interiors, electronics and safety systems.
• Hover Seat with Seat Sensing Posture ID technology: We have taken our Hover Seat to new levels of comfort by adding our Seat Sensing Posture ID technology. The seat based on zero gravity research, adaptively forms to the curvature of the occupant’s body and tailors the travel experience all while providing the consistent, even support found in the Hover Seat. The seat now features precise memory settings that allow users to save and recall their preferred seat configurations, massage functions and more, thereby catering to multiple occupants.
• ClickRim: A modular steering wheel concept with connectable segments that allows the automated wrapping of the steering wheel, integration of hands on detection and heating functionality and a broad choice of cover materials. It contains proprietary self-aligning shells and an electrical connection system. This product creates a steering wheel with a notable reduction in labor to finish the assembly. It also has sustainability features as well.
• CYMATICX sound flow cabin brings immersive acoustic experiences for vehicle interior spaces. Based on the new self-developed OURANOS Sound Domain Controller platform, integrating a variety of innovative acoustic technologies such as HOLOSOUND immersive audio, somatosensory augmented sound, SONIX acoustic follower algorithms, and special flexible thin film transducers.

Yanfeng will also provide an overview of its sustainable products and processes.

“We look forward to showcasing our latest innovations during the 2024 CES,” said Patrick Nebout, chief technology officer for Yanfeng Technology. “Demonstrating our cross-business unit capabilities will highlight the further enhancement of our product offerings.”

Yanfeng’s short-term targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for its global interiors business have now been confirmed by the Science Based Targets initiative. With this, the company commits to make a scientifically based contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases by 2030 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

“For the reduction of emissions, we have deliberately adopted scientific-based targets, which are verified by the internationally recognized Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi),” explained Büchter, Vice President Global Sustainability at Yanfeng. “The automotive industry remains a major driver of CO2 emissions. As part of an industry which has a considerable impact on global warming, we need to act now in order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement established in 2015. By setting science-based targets as a binding framework, we have made a concrete, public, and verifiable promise to the environment, society, and our customers.”

By 2030, Yanfeng commits to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its own production, its fleet of vehicles (scope 1) and from purchased energy (scope 2) by 50% in comparison with the baseline year 2019. With this, both segments will make a contribution to the limitation of global warming to 1.5°C and are therefore in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement.

Yanfeng has multiple examples of success. To reduce its emissions, the company utilizes power from renewable sources, including photovoltaic systems, for all of its plants in Europe and South Africa. 
The company has also committed to a 27.5% reduction of scope 3 emissions by 2030 from upstream and downstream supply chains, including purchased raw materials and services, business travel, employee commuting, production and the disposal of products, as well as logistics. These targets are applicable for all company locations in Europe, South Africa, the United States, Canada, Mexico and Asia.

“Because we have determined the carbon footprint of our company, we know where we need to take action to reduce our emissions. Together with our commitment to scientifically validated targets we are creating the framework for our environmental sustainability strategy. However, we can only achieve these targets in collaboration with all of our partners in our value chain,” emphasized Gunnar Büchter.

The Science Based Targets initiative was founded in 2015 by the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It provides companies with a clearly defined framework for reducing emissions according to the latest climate science and the targets of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement, in order to make a contribution to limiting global warming. 

As supplier diversity is an important part of our sustainable procurement strategy in North America, we established a dedicated function to coordinate all related activities. Jacinto Blanco, Senior Manager of Supplier Diversity, is representing this key function within the region. We spoke to Jacinto to find out what is behind this approach, what is different to other supplier programs, and what key achievements in 2022 make him proud.

Jacinto, can you provide an overview of Yanfeng’s supplier diversity program? Why is it important?

Our supplier diversity program is part of our business model in North America, which includes a policy that diverse-owned businesses have equal opportunity to compete for contracts or subcontracts with Yanfeng.

We believe our program provides a competitive advantage for Yanfeng that contributes to the overall growth and expansion of our business. Our program is more than just purchasing goods and services from a minority business enterprise. We also assist in developing and strengthening diverse-owned businesses, through such initiatives as knowledge sharing. Some examples of this include providing cybersecurity training and mentoring support to diverse-owned companies.

In addition to Yanfeng’s established processes and the company’s participation in councils, industry events, networking, and development programs, the dedication of our leadership to mentor, partner, and advocate for supplier diversity has led to significant business opportunities for minority-/women-owned enterprises and supplier diversity professionals’ growth and program maturation.

Please highlight some key accomplishments of the program. What are you most proud of?

In 2022, we had several key accomplishments, including our spending with minority-owned business. Our spending accounted for 13% of total procurement dollars. We also received multiple accolades for our performance, including Corporation of the Year from the MMSDC 2022, and Supplier Diversity Excellence Award from the GLWBC. What I’m most proud of, however, is Yanfeng’s commitment – with leadership support – to including and growing our supplier pool with diverse-owned companies, which ultimately has an economic impact on disadvantaged communities.

What differentiates Yanfeng’s program from other suppliers?

There are multiple differentiators. Procurement has included supplier diversity in our KPIs, and all commodity managers and buyers have it in their goals that they must participate in at least one supplier diversity outreach/networking event per year. Supplier diversity also is included in our overall supplier scorecard.

We also established a tier-two program, which is a reporting process for our tier 1 suppliers, that encourages 5% of their spending to be sourced to diverse suppliers. We also are looking at ways to expand our supplier diversity program to outside of the US and Mexico. We are currently seeking to expand globally and are in the process of implementing the program in Germany.