To support the rapid growth in vehicle production and airbag fitment rates in Asia, Autoliv Inc., the global leader in automotive safety systems, has begun the construction of an airbag cushion manufacturing plant in Chonburi, near Bangkok. Autoliv's existing airbag cushion plant in Thailand opened just two years ago.

The new facility will have capacity to produce 4.6 million cushions corresponding to 15% of Autoliv's global manufacturing capacity for cut and sew textile cushions for airbag systems. Autoliv also produces 20 million one-piece-woven airbag cushions annually.

The new facility in Thailand will occupy 8000 m² and employ 800 people, compared to 2000 m²  and 270 employees for the existing plant.  

The total investment cost is said to be US$ 9.4 million, not including the building which will be leased. The new facility will be located 10 kilometres from Autoliv's current seatbelt facility in Thailand. Initial production will start in July this year.

The new plant, together with Autoliv's facility in China, will enable Autoliv to produce 50% of its cut and sewn cushions in-house for the Asian markets.

The plant, constructed on a 30,000 m² plot of land, has the potential to be expanded by 6000 m² to a total capacity in excess of 10 million cushions if required to support the increasing demand for Autoliv's products.

"This is a critical expansion to ensure that we have enough components for the rapidly growing demand in Asia for our safety products", explained Jan Carlson, President and CEO of Autoliv Inc.

"Light vehicle production in Thailand is expected to grow by 75% between 2010 and 2015. In addition, we have strong export sales to other Asian markets, underpinned by burgeoning safety awareness among Asian vehicle buyers", Mr. Carlson added.