Who manufactures seats?
There isn’t one single company that makes all seats; the industry is segmented by application, with dominant manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, and office/stadium seating.
Across sectors, a handful of global players command the market, while regional and specialized firms fill niche needs. This report outlines the leading manufacturers in the main seat categories as of 2024–2025, reflecting recent industry consolidation and new groupings such as Forvia.
Automotive seating
Several global manufacturers dominate automotive seat production, supplying complete seat assemblies and components to most OEMs.
- Lear Corporation (United States) — A global leader in automotive seating and electrical systems, providing full seat assemblies to a wide range of automakers.
- Adient PLC (Ireland/UK) — A major global supplier known for complete seat systems and seating components across multiple markets.
- Forvia (France) — Formed from Faurecia’s seat systems business as part of the Faurecia–Hella merger, now a major supplier of automotive seating within a broader interiors portfolio.
- Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Japan) — A long-standing seat and interior specialist, supplying complete seats to Toyota and other OEMs worldwide.
- Kongsberg Automotive (Norway) — A dedicated supplier of seating systems, mechanisms, and related components for various automakers.
- TACHI-S Corporation (Japan) — A prominent Japanese seat and seating components supplier serving multiple OEM programs.
In automotive seating, a relatively small number of global players service the bulk of OEM contracts, while regional and niche suppliers support specialized programs and regional demand.
Aircraft seating
In aerospace, seats are produced by a handful of specialized manufacturers, often grouped under larger interior suppliers or airframe/airline programs.
- Safran Seats (France) — The leading global provider of passenger seats and cabin interior solutions, evolving from Zodiac Seats after Safran’s acquisition and rebranding.
- Collins Aerospace (United States) — A major seat supplier within a broad aerospace portfolio, serving many airframes and airlines.
- Stelia Aerospace (France) — An interiors specialist offering seating and other cabin components within the Safran/Stelia ecosystem.
- Aviointeriors (Italy) — An established Italian seat and cabin interiors manufacturer supplying airlines and OEMs.
- Geven (Italy) — An independent seat producer known for supplying a range of aircraft types to airlines and OEM programs.
The aerospace seating landscape has seen consolidation in recent years, with Safran Seats and Collins Aerospace remaining dominant, while smaller European players continue to win select programs.
Office and stadium seating
Office and public-venue seating comes from a mix of global office-furniture brands and specialized stadium-seat manufacturers, reflecting different design priorities such as ergonomics, durability, and accessibility.
- Steelcase (United States) — A leading global office furniture brand known for a broad range of ergonomic task chairs and workspace systems.
- Haworth (United States) — A major provider of office interiors, including seating solutions across corporate and educational environments.
- MillerKnoll (United States) — The consolidated entity that unites the Herman Miller and Knoll brands under one corporate umbrella, continuing legacy seating design at scale.
- Humanscale (United States) — Specializes in ergonomic office seating and accessories with a focus on user comfort and health.
- Irwin Seating Company (United States) — A traditional stadium and arena seating manufacturer with a broad lineup of fixed and retractable solutions.
- Seatcraft (United States) — A prominent provider of stadium, theatre, and auditorium seating with a wide range of configurations.
Office and stadium seating markets remain diversified, with large global brands competing alongside regional specialists to address contract-and-spec programs and venue-specific requirements.
Summary
Seat manufacturing is highly segmented by application. In automotive, leaders include Lear, Adient, Forvia, Toyota Boshoku, Kongsberg Automotive, and TACHI-S. In aerospace, Safran Seats, Collins Aerospace, Stelia Aerospace, Aviointeriors, and Geven are key players. For office and stadium seating, Steelcase, Haworth, MillerKnoll, Humanscale, Irwin Seating, and Seatcraft are prominent. The industry continues to evolve through mergers and regional coaching, with different players dominating distinct market segments depending on program scope and geography.
