Faurecia has celebrated the opening of its Silicon Valley Tech Center. The new facility will support the company’s global R&D activities and expand upon its existing innovation network by strengthening its relationships with automakers, start-ups and leading universities in the region.
A primary mission of the new location will be the acceleration of new and disruptive technologies in the company’s strategic areas of focus: sustainable mobility and the cockpit of the future. With this new center, Faurecia says it reinforces its commitment to building a premiere innovation ecosystem to address the significant transformation of the automotive industry.
“As we play a key role in transforming our industry, we have recognized the need to be close to thought leaders and disrupters around the world – among them customers and partners alike,” said Guillaume Peronnet, vice president of strategy, Faurecia North America. “Our presence in Silicon Valley allows us to strategically position ourselves amongst technology and automotive companies, and to continue identifying the challenges and solutions of the mobility future. We’re proud to add Silicon Valley to our global innovation ecosystem.”
Faurecia’s Silicon Valley office is the first of the group’s innovation platforms. Others will be created in key cities around the world to accelerate innovation and time to market in key domains for the group. The facility also is a key center for Cockpit of the Future development with local customers. The tech center employs more than 30 experts dedicated to addressing future mobility challenges. The tech center also will host one of the group’s artificial intelligence teams.
In addition to functioning as an innovation hub, the Silicon Valley facility will support Faurecia Ventures, which is dedicated to accelerating the acquisition of technologies through investments in start-ups and partnerships contributing to the product offering for Smart Life On Board and sustainable mobility.