As heard on

Listen to this story:

One of the newest suppliers to the auto industry sees a lot of opportunities out there, as long as it has the right products in the right markets.

Arvin Innovation is the name of the newest supplier coming into the auto industry. But it’s a start-up that’s being carved out of Arvin Meritor, and on it’s first day of business it will have $2.5 billion in sales and 9,000 employees in 16 different countries.

Phil Martens, who used to be at Ford, is the CEO of Arvin Innovation, which is headquartered in Detroit. And he sees big opportunities in coming out with products like composite springs that are half the weight of steel ones. And with what they call smart motors, and smart latches.

Martens says that as long as you look at the auto industry on a global basis, and get into product lines that can boost fuel economy or safety, there is plenty of growth opportunity out there.