Canadian automobile supplier Magna International has outlined a new reconfigurable swiveling seats technology intended to provide a greater range of interior configurations and flexibility. Magna International is a major parts supplier for General Motors. It’s possible that these new reconfigurable swiveling seats will find a place in new GM vehicles sometime in the future.
According to Magna director of engineering Kai Zhao, who recently spoke to Automotive News in an interview, the reconfigurable seats allow users to “reshape the space inside the vehicle,” while also “[unlocking] a lot of previously impossible situations.” According to Zhao, the different configurations can provide users with a chance to relax while their EV recharges, or they can provide additional space inside the cabin to carry larger items, such as cargo picked up at the local home improvement center.
The new design incorporates long rails, some up to six feet in length, which enable the seats to move forward and backward with a huge degree of motion, while also swiveling 180 degrees. Additionally, Zhao says the technology can be incorporated with the center console as well, allowing it to move within the cabin into a position that best suits passengers.
The new reconfigurable Magna seat technology will make its initial mass-market debut with a Chinese auto manufacturer, although it’s unclear at this time which manufacturer that may be. However, Magna is also shopping the technology to other customers, including those in North America and Europe, and that could include GM.
“We own the patent for the long rail and swivel and all those things,” Zhao told Automotive News. “We’re working with different OEMs. We’re engaging with other OEMs to pitch our ideas. Some are further advanced than others.”
All that said, it appears as though this technology is best-suited for mini-van like MPVs, which are particularly popular in China. Meanwhile, GM does not currently offer any minivans in the U.S.
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Comments
Neat to see this with the potential to become more mainstream. For people with mobility issues, upfitting with accessible seating is an expensive proposition that only fits certain vehicles. It will be nice to see this with more availability at an improved cost, even if it does not fully replicate all of the current upfitter features.
What’s old is new again. My father had a 1974 malibu classic with front seats that swiveled.
I owned a 1976 Chevy Monte Carlo with swivel bucket seats, and a 400ci small block engine.
I had a 76 red w/white landau top loved it
Front seats that swivel are an EXCELLENT idea for older folks. It’s a GM idea that was ahead of its time.
GM should offer then on all models, beginning with Cadillacs.
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Magna also makes exterior parts for many, many other automobile companies, not just GM