If Adient has its way, auto upholstery shops will soon be out of work — or at least seat cover work.
The Detroit-based seating manufacturer has developed a new seat cover that supposedly fits like an OEM product, but is simple enough for any car owner to remove and install. No tools, hog rings or clips required.
The cover, which zips on and off, is geared toward car owners who use their vehicles for Uber or other ride-share services, and are concerned about cleanliness.
“With more people joining ride sharing organizations for the reliability, convenience and cost, keeping vehicles clean enhances the experience. We have designed the removable seat covers to do just that,” said Nick Petouhoff, executive director of engineering for Adient.
The new seat cover features an integrated zipper for easy removal and installation, and can be washed in any household washing machine. Its foam is wrapped in a protective lining that prevents degradation, so car owners never have to worry about replacing, restoring or cleaning cushions, the company says.
What’s more, the seat cover can be coated in FreshPer4mance, which makes fabrics liquid-repellent, stain-resistant and antimicrobial. Adient can also print any design or pattern on the cover.
Adient, which supplies seats and upholstery to nearly every major automaker, says the new covers provide a less expensive alternative to “upgrading or repairing the interior of a vehicle” — a direct swipe at auto upholstery shops.
Of course, cheap, removable seat covers have been around for decades. But they often look cheap, fit horribly and ruin the aesthetics of a car’s interior.
Adient says its new seat covers solve that problem because they’re made with quality materials and fit like a glove. If true and automakers bite, our shops may soon see a significant drop in seat cover work.
I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get your panties in a bunch. This company is offering a “superior” product to a specific audience, and I think that’s great for those of us able to adapt to current economic situations. In my opinion a true trim shop should be offering more than driver’s side bolster panel repairs, so this should not be scary or even worrisome. What is wrong with people catering to the general public wanting to keep their cars looking nicer for longer? Shouldn’t we want to encourage people to have high standards of their automotive interior and become excited about customization?
in the upholstery business for 51 years . would like to know more about this . i would like to be able to buy ready made cover that would fit right and stay that way .
S&S Upholstery
Yeah . . . how many seat cover makers have described their covers as being a perfect fit? They may have the same dimensions as the seats, but if you can’t secure them to the seat, they are simply covers. And if you are trying to compete in the seat cover market, give it up. Resell pre-sewn covers like this as a convenience to your customers, and think about what you can offer customers that the Internet can’t. Nowadays, you’ll never get people to look you up before they turn to Google, but you can make a positive impact on the people you encounter and that might make them prefer doing business with you.
How do they propose to zipper seat covers to rear seats? Nah, we aren’t done yet.
Customer comes in,wants seats recovered.Door panels done and new carpet.I upsell the job to real leather, during the process we become friends.We have other work, Customer has a show quality vehicle and wife and I are invited to a BBQ at his house.Hes a 70 year old Marine who’s wife died of cancer 4 years ago.We don’t worry about other markets or what they do.We have discovered people are just as important as the money.