Competitor wants to occupy the space Takata

The defect in the airbag system of the Japanese manufacturer Takata which led to the largest recall of vehicles not yet affected world the brazilian branch of the Group''s business, with plant in Jundiaí (SP). The company, however, prepares for likely market drop by acknowledging that must lose contracts of new projects of automakers. Competing brands are preparing to take over the vacuum that the Brazilian market leader today air bags can leave. On the front line are two other Giants in the field that already operate in the country, the Autoliv and TRW. Additionally, the Japanese subsidiary GDBR, Toyoda Gosei, with factory inaugurated in 2015 in Itapetininga, SP, managed to contract for a new Honda car, according to market sources. Honda of Brazil announces that it will not use more blowers of airbags of Takata in new models, but does not reveal names of suppliers. The Fiat Chrysler announced outside that will no longer use airbags Takata. Another manufacturer, the KSS-Key System Safety, American Group acquired by Chinese Ningbo Joyson, can rush plan to install factory in São Paulo. "All the automakers are renegotiating contracts for new products. If we lose the project out there, we will lose also in Brazil, "admits Airton evangelist, President of brazilian Takata. The inflator (piece that presents the problem that led to the recall) is not made in Brazil. Is imported by Takata of Germany, Mexico and China. So far, about 80,000,000 cars undergo recall worldwide. In Brazil, are 2,000,000 vehicles, the majority of Honda and Toyota, but were also made calls for Fiat Chrysler Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Volkswagen and Audi. According to the Evangelist, the group is facing a critical situation and negotiate contributions with fun of investment. "Already there are groups interested in investing." No new contribution, the Takata won''t be able to afford the costs of the recall, fines and indemnities provided for, value engineered at $ 10 billion. The Group Bill around $ 6 billion a year. Quotes. Arnaldo Colonel, commercial Director of Autoliv, says the company has been queried, but didn''t close any new contract. The factory of Taubaté (SP) produces about 74000 airbags a month. TRW, a maker of the item in Limeira (SP) doesn''t talk about the subject, but sources say she has done several quotes for automakers. Most competitors of Takata, as TRW and Autoliv, is providing blowers for the recall of the so-called "deadly airbag", because the company can''t handle meet the demand. They use Guanidine nitrate as airbags opening inductor, while the Takata uses ammonium nitrate, appointed as responsible for the massive explosion that causes the disruption of the metal piece that involves the inflatable bag. Parts of the play are expelled as razors and have already caused 14 deaths in the U.S. and Malaysia and more than 100 wounded, none of them in Brazil. The Takata will also replace the ammonium chloride by Guanidine.
Company has plans to release the side airbag
Although the future is uncertain for the Group Takata-founded in 1933 in Japan – the brazilian branch maintains new plans, how to produce side airbags in the country. Today, produces the front bags (for driver and lift) and the protection to the knees, with most imported items. In addition the unit Jundiaí (SP), where are made the airbags, the Group has laces factory for seat belts in Pi-çarras (SC), for steering wheels in Matthew Helm (MG) and for airbag in Uruguay. The Takata intended to build a fifth plant, in the State of Pernambuco, to meet Fiat Chrysler, but the project is frozen. "We provide airbags for the Jeep Renegade and the truck Toro," according to Airton evangelist, President of Takata from Brazil. According to him, these days, more than the giant, recall the brazilian affiliate business is the economic and political crisis, which led to the fall of sales of vehicles. The Group was preparing to produce 6,000,000 annually of airbags from 2014, but this year should produce a maximum of 3,500,000 due to the fall in demand. "Despite this, we made a few cuts", says the Executive. The four plants employ 2400 employees, 100 less than two years ago. The financial problem faced by the matrix did not affect the subsidiary. "Our accounts are balanced; We don''t take money out or we send money there, "said Evangelista. The company grosses about $ 300,000,000 a year and doesn''t believe that will be called to help in possible so run to the array. The Evangelist States that the problem of inadequate explosion of airbags affects mostly older vehicles, produced between 2001 and 2004. According to him, the Takata deflagrates weekly, for tests, collected on the market and airbags 5000 problems focus on the older products which have suffered wear and tear over time. In recent years, the company has changed the way of use of ammonium nitrate and then introduced a product to prevent moisture affecting ammonia.
"What''s killing people aren''t the new airbags," he says. He points out that many consumers still do not meet the recall. "The last person who died in the United States had received five letters and did not return." The head of the Department of Marketing at ESPM, Marcelo Bridges, says that one of the ways of a company that is going through this problem don''t have the picture impaired is not mask the defect, don''t make excuses and be honest. "You have to assume the problem and solve it quickly and efficiently".