Lear Corporation - automotive industry company news 
NEW DELHI SHOW: Brummie Bolt showcases Birmingham suppliers
4 January 2012
A concept car dubbed the Birmingham Bolt - because the technical expertise and componentry it uses were sourced almost entirely from the UK’s second largest city - is on show at Dehli Auto Expo.
US: Lear Corporation Q3 net sales up 23% to US$3.5bn
31 October 2011
Lear Corporation has today (31 October) reported improved financial results for the third quarter with net sales up 23% to US$3.5bn and updated its full year 2011 outlook.
US: Issues with headrests are leading seat problem - JD Power
22 August 2011
While relatively few new-vehicle owners indicate having experienced a problem with their vehicle seats, those who do most often cite headrest adjustment controls as the source of the problem, according to a study by JD Power (the JD Power and Associates 2011 US Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study).
MOROCCO: Lear opens new electronics plant
17 May 2011
Auto electrical power management systems supplier Lear Corporation has officially opened a new electronics facility in Rabat, Morocco.
US: Lear off to a good start
3 May 2011
Lear Corporation, automotive seating and electrical power management system supplier, booked first quarter up 20% to US$3.5bn and operating profit up 48% to $205m in the seventh consecutive quarter of year on year improvement.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Review of electrical and electronic distribution systems
28 February 2011
The feature content of new cars is increasing on a daily basis. Yet features like multimedia systems, cell phones, rear seat entertainment, remote keyless entry and tyre pressure monitoring systems all consume more energy. As part of just-auto.com’s annual rolling review of electrical and electronic distribution systems, Matthew Beecham asks how is this trend impacting on vehicle electrical and electronic architectures?
US: Ford suppliers add 5,500 jobs for new Focus
28 February 2011
Ford said that many of the 310 suppliers in 22 countries making parts for the redesigned Focus have added added a total of 5,500 jobs plus facilities and equipment to produce parts for the vehicle while others have at least been able to maintain employment levels.
US: Lear to repurchase shares
17 February 2011
Seating supplier Lear Corporation has announced a US$400m share repurchase programe, initiated a $0.25 per share quarterly cash dividend and declared a two-for-one stock split of its common stock. The cash dividend will be paid on the pre-split shares.
Q&A with Lear
11 February 2011
Continuing just-auto’s annual review of the vehicle electrical and electronic distribution systems market, Matthew Beecham talked with Bill Presley, Director - Global Wire Engineering (COE), Electrical Systems Division, Lear Corporation.
US: Lear Q4 operating profit up 30%
1 February 2011
Lear Corporation reported fourth quarter sales of $3.2bn, up 15% from a year ago and operating earnings of $150m, up 30%. Earnings per share was $2.38.
BRIEFING: Review of 2010 (first half)
20 December 2010
Like any year in the auto industry, 2010 saw its fair share of company ups and downs, industrial comings and goings, and a fair old sprinkling of corporate drama. We covered it all on just-auto. Editor Dave Leggett sifts through the lot and picks out a few highlights from the year just gone, month by month. Part one covers the first half of the year, with part two looking at the second half to follow later this week.
US: Lear Q3 operating profit up 35%
13 December 2010
Lear Corporation, supplier of automotive seating and electrical power management systems, has reported financial results for the third quarter of 2010 and increased its 2010 full year outlook.
SPAIN: EC grants financial assistance to redundant autoworkers
8 November 2010
Spain has been granted approval by the European Commission for EUR382,200 (US$532,000) in assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).
US: Lear Q3 improves year on year
28 October 2010
Lear Corporation has reported third quarter net sales of $2.8bn ($2.5bn a year ago), pretax income of $103.9m ($49.4m), including restructuring costs and other special items of $30.2m, and net income per share of $1.76. Operating income was $149.5m ($110.5m) and net income per share $2.28.
INTERVIEW: IAC's John Smail
27 October 2010
International Automotive Components (IAC) is a Tier I supplier of interior systems and components specialising in instrument panels and cockpit systems, door assemblies, overhead systems, door and trim systems, and flooring and acoustic systems. It was formed in 2005 by investor Wilbur Ross and Franklin Mutual Advisers following the acquisition of Collins & Aikman’s European assets. Dave Leggett caught up with IAC's John Smail – who manages the firm's North American business relationships with OEMs - at the company's Dearborn (Detroit) headquarters this week.
US: Lear appoints non-executive chairman
13 August 2010
Lear Corporation has elected Henry Wallace as non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors with immediate effect.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Ambition and profits
6 August 2010
News this week that Geely is adamant Volvo will retain its identity now the Chinese are in charge and Ford is shot of its Swedish patient. It remains to be seen if we now get Volvo badges on Geely products for Chinese sale but somehow I doubt they'll try that abroad.
US: Lear Q2 back in black
3 August 2010
For the second quarter of 2010, Lear reported net sales up 33% to $3bn and pretax income of $182.6m, including restructuring costs and other special items of $16.3m.
Q&A with Lear Corp
14 July 2010
In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with executives of Lear Corp about the use of eco-friendly materials in the cabin, consumer expectations and Lear’s most recent innovations.
June 2010 Management Briefing: Review of the vehicle seating sector
2 July 2010
In the global automotive seating market, suppliers must offer seats that are more comfortable, durable and safer than last year’s designs but also lighter and cheaper too.
THE WEEK THAT WAS: An uptick in partsville
7 May 2010
Back from two weeks' 'holiday at home' (not entirely my first choice; do not mention the words 'Iceland' or 'volcano') to a mixed week for the auto biz. It's nice to see a bit of uptick, at last, in the components sector with Magna back in the black in the first quarter on the back of increased OEM production in the USA (especially) and Europe and increased complete vehicle sales as new contracts like the Peugeot RCZ kicked in to replace the Chrysler minivan assembly withdrawn back to the US from the plant in Austria some time ago.
US: Lear Q1 sales up 36%
6 May 2010
Seating and electrical equipment specialist Lear Corporation on Thursday said first quarter 2010 sales rose 36% year on year to US$2.9bn.
US: Lear prices senior note offering
24 March 2010
Lear Corporation on Wednesday said it priced an underwritten public offering of US$350m in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% senior notes due 2018, and $350m in aggregate principal amount of 8.125% senior notes due in 2020. The senior notes due 2018 were priced at 99.276% of par, resulting in a yield to maturity of 8.00%, and the senior notes due 2020 were priced at 99.164% of par, resulting in a yield to maturity of 8.25%.
US: Lear starts $700m senior notes offering
23 March 2010
Seating specialist Lear Corporation has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to start a senior notes offering of US$700m.
US: Lear files to SEC as it looks to refinance
18 March 2010
Seating specialist Lear Corporation has submitted a regulatory filing with the US Security and Exchange Commission as it looks to refinance.
ANALYSIS: Anti-trust raids could start an ugly new era of automaker-supplier relations
1 March 2010
Carmakers open up wounds by complaining to authorities, says SupplierBusiness. But did parts makers engage in illegal collusion or was it a natural evolution of business strategy?
Q&A with Lear
22 February 2010
Not so long ago, seats were seats. But with intense competition in the marketplace and technology advancing, the focus on car seat design has heightened. For more than a decade, Matthew Beecham has monitored events at Lear Corp, one of the world’s largest seat makers. Here, he asks Jeff Frelich, Lear Corp’s director of research and design, seating systems, about the role of Lear’s ComforTec Consumer Comfort Systems, consumer clinics and its so-called Flexible Seat Architecture which can be found today in some 20 million cars across 13 different vehicle lines.
US: Restructured Lear reports Q4 and full year results
8 February 2010
Seating specialist Lear Corporation reported fourth quarter net sales of US$2.7bn and pretax income of $1,194m, including a gain related to reorganisation items and fresh start accounting adjustments of $1,513m, a goodwill impairment charge of $319.0m and restructuring costs of $59.3m. Income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings) was $115.5m in the fourth quarter of 2009. This compared with net sales of $2.6bn, a pretax loss of $682.9m, including a goodwill impairment charge of $530.0m, and core operating earnings of $22.0m in the fourth quarter of 2008.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS: Review of vehicle seating
3 February 2010
In the global automotive seating market, suppliers must offer seats that are more comfortable, durable and safer than last year’s designs but also lighter and cheaper too. Matthew Beecham reports on how they are achieving it.
FEATURE: Johnson Controls turns heads with its strong fourth quarter results
25 January 2010
The news last Friday morning had a lot of people talking. Johnson Controls beat Wall Street’s expectations with its fourth-quarter earnings, the first in a series of announcements that is expected, over the coming days, to produce a number of strong financial results for suppliers. In North America, 2010 will be a case of the “haves” and the “have-nots”, according to SupplierBusiness.
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Lear Corporation - Strategy, SWOT and Corporate Finance Report
Datamonitors' Lear Corporation’s SWOT, Strategy and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings, detailed financials, and corporate actions, providing a 360° view of the company.
Lear Corporation: SWOT Analysis & Company Profile
Business Review’s Lear Corporation contains a company overview, key facts, locations and subsidiaries, news and events as well as a SWOT analysis of the company.
Lear Corporation (LEA) - Financial and Strategic Analysis Review
Lear Corporation (Lear) is a largest global tier I supplier of full line automotive seat systems, electrical distribution systems and electronic products. The company is engaged in manufacturing, assembling and supplying vehicle seating requirements for automobiles and light trucks, and electrical and electronic systems and components for the vehicle. Lear conducted its operations through 197 facilities, including 160 manufacturing facilities and assembly sites, 29 administrative/technical support facilities, six advanced technology centers and two distribution centers in 35 countries. Lear serves automotive and light truck market.
