The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.
(Questions from industry analysts are provided in full, but answers are omitted - download the transcript to see the full question-and-answer session)
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: <_ALACRA_META_ABSTRACT>Let's jump into the questions. And I thought with an industry question, we could start off, and Jason, I can direct this one to
you perhaps. There's been a lot of volatility in the industry around potential supply chain disruptions and customer-specific
events such as the cyberattack on JLR and the Novelis fire. And given that backdrop, can you share your current views on
how the quarter is shaping up?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: That's some great news. Thank you for sharing those updates and glad to hear how the quarter is developing. And maybe
we could pick up on that and talk a bit more on production trends by region. Have there been any surprises relative to your
expectations? And any early views you'd want to share on 2026, including the extent to which customer production impacts
that you've seen in '25 may be recovered?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: And Mike, just to make sure I understood what you were referring to when you talk about volume mix, you mean kind of just
the types of vehicles that OEMs are making? Or do you just meant your OEM exposure?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Okay. Helpful. Maybe we could talk about automation. I mean it's been such an important focus for Lear. You've acquired a
number of companies to enhance your automation efforts, including StoneShield and WIP. You're also partnering with Palantir.
Could you speak to where the company is on the journey of its automation efforts, including where it's making progress, what's
to come? And what might be hard to automate at least with current technology?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: No, those are some fantastic examples and really helps to illustrate all the discussions you guys have had on this broader
topic for a while now. So thanks for that. Maybe we could just double-click with one more on this. And you mentioned the $65
million to $75 million of savings annually from these broader set of initiatives. Anything you can share in terms of typical
payback period on those investments?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Very helpful. Maybe we can speak more on the Seating business, and the company has spoken about how automation as
well as your regionalization efforts are potential drivers of Conquest business in Seating. What is Lear seeing on its ability to
convert on these opportunities? And has the total Conquest opportunity of $3 billion changed?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Thank you for all those updates on the Seating business. And I think in your opening comments, Jason, you talked about some
awards you've seen even just in this quarter, I think maybe you said three. Please correct me if I had that number wrong. Were
those more new programs? Or were those some of the Conquest business you just spoke to?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Okay. And you actually were just referring to some momentum in China. So that I know has been a big focus for a number of
suppliers, including Lear. Maybe you can put that into perspective for us. You've been targeting to reach 50% of China revenue
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DECEMBER 04, 2025 / 10:15AM, LEA.N - Lear Corp at Goldman Sachs Industrials & Autos Week
from domestics in 2027. Just kind of level set us where you stand with some of the progress and some of the momentum you
just spoke about.
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: That's helpful. And on the China opportunity, the company had consolidated two of its Seating joint ventures in China this
year. How is Lear thinking about further consolidation going forward? And what impact might that have on margins in Seating?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Okay. And then just on a global perspective, TCS has been an important part of the opportunity for Lear. You already spoke
about some of the progress the company has seen there. But as you think about ComfortFlex and ComfortMax, just any more
comments around how that product has progressed?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: That's great. Thank you for all those updates on Thermal Comfort. Maybe we could have a couple of questions on the E-Systems
segment. The company commented on its third quarter call that it expects E-Systems to have a negative $100 million backlog
in 2026 compared to the February outlook of positive $170 million. What's the driver of that? Lear has also spoken about the
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Okay. And that's all very helpful context and some revenue headwind. But maybe we can talk about margins in E-Systems.
To what extent do you think the company can see some margin expansion in part given some of the focus and automation
efforts? And just any more color on the margin trajectory you see in E-Systems over the next couple of years?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Very helpful. Maybe we could finish up with capital allocation. How should investors think about Lear's capital allocation
priorities?
Question: Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group Inc - Analyst
: Well, unfortunately, we are out of time. I'd like to give a big thank you to the entire Lear team, Jason, Mike and Jared, I really
appreciate you joining the conference.
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