European chemical synthetic fiber production companies will expand the scale of transactions with car manufacturers. Teijin Japan also announced that it will acquire German automotive interior materials companies for 125 million euros, and Asahi Kasei and other companies to expand synthetic fiber production capacity. With the popularization of electric vehicles (EV), the demand for high-performance synthetic fiber materials is increasing. While increasing contact with automobile manufacturers, chemical manufacturing companies have demonstrated their best technological innovation capabilities.
Teijin acquired a German company engaged in the manufacture of automotive sound-absorbing materials and seat materials. It has four factories in Europe. Its sales in December 2017 were 69 million euros. It is expected that it will acquire all equity from German investment companies in August. "This will be the first time that direct action will be taken by a European automaker," Teikoku Nikko Shinji emphasized in a press conference.
Asahi Kasei, another chemical synthetic fiber company, is also discussing the construction of a new low-fuel tire factory in Europe. If planned, the investment will reach millions of yen. The company's plan to use the company's synthetic fiber resin to make EV electric concept cars was revealed at a European exhibition recently.
In addition, Mitsui Chemicals has established a "polypropylene (PP)" resin in the Netherlands that can reduce the weight of bumpers. Toray will also set up a research and development laboratory for auto parts materials in the suburbs of Munich, Germany in August.
Major companies will also increase the stock of raw materials to "buy time" to enter the auto parts field. They will also realize capital operations through M & A (M & A). In the field of automotive interior materials, Asahi Kasei also recently pointed out the strong acquisition of US manufacturers by European companies.
While European automakers are actively adopting new materials, they also maintain strong ties with local raw material manufacturers. Japan's Chemical Fiber Corporation has not done so. However, due to the constraints of the environment and fuel consumption restrictions, the demand for lightweight vehicles will further increase, and high-performance synthetic fiber materials will definitely be in short supply.