W.E.T. given major car seat heater order by Toyota

by Anthony Manduca

W.E.T. Automotive Systems (Malta) Ltd has just been given the approval by Toyota Motor Company for the production of car seat heaters for their Lexus programme. This is a breakthrough for the W.E.T. Group as it is the first production for Toyota which will go directly to Japan.

This will eventually result not only in an increase in volume but also in an increase in manpower.

Colin Tabone, the company's general manger, told The Malta Business Weekly: "This is a major contract for our company and we are delighted. Up until now we have been producing 120,000 parts a month but with this new order we will be producing an additional 50,000 a month. Consequently we intend to increase our workforce."

Asked how long this contract was valid for, Mr Tabone said that it was valid for at least three to four years. He also said that major contracts with other automobile makers were in the pipeline.

The Japanese automotive company gave its approval following a number of stringent product and process audits, as well as a programme of continuous improvement initiatives. "The achievement of this order was only due to the commitment and dedication of all the employees of the company," Mr Tabone said.

W.E.T. Automotive Systems (Malta) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Munich based W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG, which is the world market leader in the car seat heating business and manufactures car seat heaters for the major automotive companies such as Daimler-Chrysler, BMW, VW, Ford and Fiat. The Maltese company currently employs 150 people, but this is now expected to increase.

The W.E.T. Group and all its subsidiaries throughout the world apply the highest quality standards available, and are all QS 9000 and VDA certified.