The dynamics of technological change in the automotive seat segment

Abstract

A motor vehicle is a complex system of more than 10 000 elements, which are integrated in subsystems produced in diverse technological systems that evolve in rhythms and directions. One of these systems is the automotive seat. This paper is organised into three parts. In the first, we show that patents are a technological indicator that contributes to explaining the technological evolution of automotive seats. In the second, a description of the technological evolution of the seat is used to analyse inventions registered by the Lear Corporation as well as by Johnson Controls. The last part examines the changes in the process of modularisation.

Building an innovation-based supplier portfolio: The use of patent analysis in strategic supplier selection in the automotive sector

“…As a consequence, car seats have become a specialised component of the car made from a large number of items that are combined together for a modularised manufacturing process. The increase in complexity and specialist separation of car seat production has led to a small number of first tier suppliers from which car manufacturers source complete seats (Lara Rivero, 2006).…”

Patterns of knowledge development and diffusion in the global autonomous vehicle technological innovation system: a patent-based analysis

“…When it comes to innovation in emerging and uncertain areas, patents offer even clearer benefits compared with other indexes (Griliches, 1990;Golembiewski et al, 2015). Particularly for studies on innovations in relation to the automotive industry, patent data has been applied by quite a few authors (e.g., Rivero et al, 2006;de Mello et al, 2013;Huth et al, 2013;Flamand, 2016). As noted in Table 1, several studies on knowledge development in AV TISs have applied patent analysis.…”