Magna Gets GM Pickup Integrator Role?

General Motors Corp., for several years, has been pursuing a strategy to appoint supplier “integrators” to oversee development of interiors for future vehicles. The strategy remains in place, but the players appear to be changing.

GM announced in January 2002 that Magna International Inc.'s Intier division would coordinate the interiors for the next-generation fullsize SUVs, while Lear Corp. would integrate interiors for the pickups from the same GMT900 architecture.

Lear, however, has declined the interior integrator role for the pickups (although it will continue to supply the seats). Instead, Intier will handle integration for both the SUVs and pickups, representatives from both companies confirm.

Because the SUVs launch in 2006, prior to the pickups, and because the two interiors share many parts, Lear says it makes better sense to let Intier handle both platforms.

“A lot of the SUV content will go into the pickup,” says Patrick Murray, vice president of Lear's VisionWorks unit. “We wanted to keep the momentum of the team that did the interior for the SUV consistent with the cadence to the pickup.”

Lear, however, is embracing interior integrator duties for the upcoming Buick LeSabre and Cadillac DTS. The vehicles launch in early 2005.

Intier says the decision to switch the interior integrator roles with Lear was made within the past 12 months, says Scott Paradise, executive vice president-sales and marketing for Intier Automotive.

GM declines to comment on the sourcing arrangement for the GMT900 or to confirm whether the decision is final.