(Plastics Today) -- Leading automotive safety systems supplier Autoliv Inc. (Stockholm, Sweden) is investing USD 9 million at its production facility in Taubate near Sao Paulo in Brazil to double its steering wheel molding and assembly capacity to more than one million units annually. This will consolidate its position as leading supplier in the region.
This capacity increase positions Autoliv to take advantage of the expected 25% increase of light vehicle demand in Brazil over the next three years. In addition, a Brazilian law mandating 100% adoption of frontal airbags in light vehicles will be phased in through 2014.
Autoliv began steering wheel operations at the existing Taubate plant 12 years ago. The plant currently has 77 employees, and expects to increase to nearly 100 employees when the plant reaches full capacity.