Johnson Controls Inc’s (JCI) Automotive Group Focused on Margin Improvement

June 30, 2015

Dr. Beda Bolzenius, Vice President, Vice Chairman — Asia Pacific and President, Automotive Experience — of Johnson Controls Inc’s (JCI) says the Automotive Group is not focused on topline growth but rather margin improvement. He says the company is well positioned to report improved margins over the next two to three years.

“We reacted to the market trend of component sourcing — customers buying the components of the seat separately and not buying the seat as a complete system — and were out of the starting block first,” Bolzenius says. “We made a lot of good acquisitions.”

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Bolzenius says the Automotive Group has clear plans to take advantage of its number-one market position for fabrics, foam and trim. He says management is particularly focused on the metals and mechanisms area.

“So we will take that advantage, we will grow these businesses, and we will significantly improve our margins,” he says. “And as I mentioned, innovation is happening on the component level in the seating system, and we’re investing in bringing new solutions, driving the weight of the seat down while further improving the safety performance and the comfort level of these seats.”