On April 11, FORVIA, the seventh largest automotive technology supplier globally, announced a joint-venture agreement with Chery, a leading Chinese car manufacturer, signed in Hefei. This agreement will deepen their collaboration in the field of intelligent and sustainable cockpits.

FORVIA and Chery will establish a "Cockpit of the Future" joint venture in Wuhu city, aimed at designing, developing, manufacturing, and supplying complete cockpit systems and modules, involving seats, interiors, and cockpit electronics that utilize materials and processes with low carbon dioxide emissions. This will be the first joint venture of its kind in China, said FORVIA. The performance of this joint venture will be integrated into FORVIA, targeting €1 billion in sales by 2029.

Photo credit:  FORVIA

The joint venture will establish an R&D center focusing on industrial design and cockpit integration capabilities, aiming to help FORVIA and Chery deliver pioneering, sustainable, and competitive consumer experiences.

The yet-to-be-formed venture plans to launch two production sites in the first half of 2024 to better support the rapid development of Chery.

Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Holding, stated, “Electrification, intelligence, brand upward, globalization and sustainability development, these are the next strategic priorities for CHERY. FORVIA is a leading global automotive technology supplier, and the two parties have a broad space for cooperation in the field of intelligent cockpit and low CO2 emission materials, as well as a wide range of complementarities and cooperation opportunities in the overseas market."

Patrick KOLLER, CEO of FORVIA, commented, “The automotive industry is currently experiencing a technological revolution and smart sustainable cockpit demand is increasing. To stay ahead in this competitive market, we are pleased to further deepen our collaboration with Chery, a key technology-driven partner. We aim to turn the vehicle cabin into a truly intelligent space, meeting the scenario-based needs of consumers through sustainable and innovative solutions to create a safe, affordable, sustainable and customized mobility experience.”

It's worth mentioning that in September 2023, FORVIA and Chery signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement, deepening their comprehensive collaboration in the field of intelligent and sustainable cockpits.