Autoneum and the Japanese automobile suppliers Nittoku (Nihon Tokushu Toryo) and Toyota Boshoku have agreed on the establishment of a joint venture for research and development in vehicle acoustics and signed a corresponding agreement.

The collaboration, which is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, is expected to begin in January 2018. By means of the joint venture acoustic studies for Toyota Motor Corporation and other automotive related companies will be conducted in Japan under the scientific lead of Autoneum.

In future, customers will benefit from the expertise of the Swiss innovation leader and its Japanese partners both in the predevelopment of vehicle models with NV benchmarking (noise, vibration) and subsequently in the vehicle development with the computer-aided design of customised acoustics systems. In order to guarantee the highest standards, measurement systems and simulation software developed by Autoneum will be deployed at the acoustic centre located at Toyota Boshoku in Japan.

For more than 50 years, Autoneum and Nittoku have cooperated successfully in the global supply of Japanese OEMs with innovative and lightweight components for acoustic and thermal management. Together they operate seven joint ventures worldwide. The future acoustics development for Toyota together with Toyota Boshoku, a leading producer of interior systems, will serve to further expand the collaboration of the three automobile suppliers in the field of vehicle interior systems that has been in place since 2012.

Autoneum, with its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, produces vehicle acoustics and thermal management systems. The company develops and manufactures components, modules and complete systems for interior and engine bay as well as heatshields and underbody shields.

Customers include leading automobile producers in the key markets of Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Autoneum is represented at around 50 locations in over 20 countries and employs more than 11,000 people.

www.autoneum.com