Lear Corporation is a global automotive supplier headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, with roots that trace back to 1917, when the business began in Detroit as American Metal Products producing components for transportation and industrial uses. Over time, Lear evolved into a focused automotive technology company built around comfort, safety, and connectivity inside the vehicle.
The company’s central role in the auto supply chain is helping automakers design, industrialize, and manufacture systems that sit at the intersection of engineering and high-volume production. Lear’s work is closely tied to platform-level vehicle programs, where reliability, consistent quality, and efficient manufacturing matter as much as innovation.
A major pillar of the business is Seating, where Lear develops complete seating systems and key seat components meant to improve occupant experience and help manufacturers balance comfort, weight, durability, and cost. This includes engineering and manufacturing capabilities that support everything from seat architecture and mechanisms to trim and surface materials—areas where design and industrial process must work together at scale.
The second pillar is E-Systems, which focuses on the vehicle’s electrical and electronic architecture—supporting how power and data move across increasingly connected vehicles. Lear describes this area around secure data transfer, connectivity, and precision power management, reflecting the growing complexity of electronics that support features like advanced driver assistance, infotainment, and electrified platforms.
Within Seating, one notable brand is Eagle Ottawa, Lear’s premium automotive leather business, known for specialized material development and large-scale production for vehicle interiors. Taken together, Lear’s mix of seating integration and electrical architecture positions it as an “inside-the-vehicle” specialist—helping automakers deliver more refined cabins while also supporting the wiring, connectivity, and power pathways that modern vehicles depend on.