Magna International and TRW Open Advanced Automotive Development and Testing Center

Strategic Insights -

Magna International Inc. and TRW Inc. have officially opened the ACTS (Advanced Car Technology Systems) facility, a $33 million joint venture in SAILAUF, Germany. The state-of-the-art 19,000-square-meter facility provides a comprehensive testing and development center for automotive systems, employing around 80 people and expected to reach 150 by the end of 2000. The facility showcases a total-vehicle perspective for design and development, catering to global automobile manufacturers. TRW Chairman and CEO Joseph T. Gorman referred to ACTS as "the finest independent development and testing center in the world," offering total vehicle and safety systems solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • ACTS is a $33 million joint venture between Magna International Inc. and TRW Inc. in SAILAUF, Germany.
  • The facility is a comprehensive testing and development center for automotive systems, employing around 80 people and expected to reach 150 by the end of 2000.
  • ACTS provides a total-vehicle perspective for design and development, catering to global automobile manufacturers.
  • TRW and Magna will work together on interior and safety systems, with TRW leading development efforts on occupant restraint systems.
  • The center features a range of testing services, including acceleration sled, barrier, car-to-car, rollover crash tests, and environmental tests.
  • Magna will focus on interior, exterior body, and chassis systems, while TRW will lead development efforts on occupant restraint systems.
  • ACTS has state-of-the-art facilities, including an angular crash test facility, acceleration sled test system, climatic chamber, and 3-D coordinate measurement systems.
  • The facility is representative of the expanded technology, engineering, and integration role that leading suppliers perform in working with customers and suppliers.
  • By the end of 2000, another 70 employees are expected to join the team to meet the growing needs of the facility.

Statistics:

  • The facility is a 19,000-square-meter (204,000-square-foot) center located southeast of Frankfurt, Germany.
  • ACTS employs around 80 people at present, with plans to reach a total of 150 employees by the end of 2000.
  • The joint venture costs $33 million (DM 60 million), with no date mentioned for its construction.
  • Magna is one of the world's most diversified automotive suppliers, with CAN $9.2 billion/U.S. $6.3 billion in sales.
  • Magna has over 54,000 employees in 164 manufacturing operations and 29 product development and engineering centers in 18 countries.
  • TRW is one of the world's largest independent automotive component suppliers, with nearly $13 billion in worldwide automotive sales.

Sources:

  • Magna International Inc. press release, June 30 /PRNewswire/
  • TRW Inc. press release, June 30 /PRNewswire/
  • Company information on www.trw.com for TRW, www.magnaint.com for Magna, and www.acts.de for ACTS.