High on hydrogen

Through its Symbio joint venture with Michelin, Faurecia expands far beyond its interior-systems base into the fuel-cell future.

With only a single proton and electron, hydrogen is the lightest element in the Periodic Table, but it is having a heavy impact on Faurecia. The French Tier-1 supplier, whose automotive seating and interiors businesses accounted for nearly 69% of sales in 2020, is staking a significant slice of its future growth in hydrogen fuel-cell systems. It's a bold and admittedly disruptive strategy that Jose-Vicente March, Faurecia's general manager, Zero Emissions in the Clean Mobility group, is confident will establish his company as a technology and market leader.

“Yes, it's been disruptive - but it's applied disruption! Our initiative on hydrogen and fuel cells is a key mission for us,” March explained in an interview with SAE Media. “It's part of Faurecia's commitment to be CO2 neutral by 2050. One of our four business groups, Clean Mobility [its exhaust-aftertreatment products accounted for 26% of sales in 2020], was already addressing the market transitions from IC engines to zero-emissions engines. So, it was logical for them to lead our hydrogen effort. From both the business and environmental points of view, we will be part of the powertrain revolution.”