Katzkin Leather Interiors, Montebello, Calif., an aftermarket supplier of automotive leather interior products, is showcasing its relationships with automotive manufacturers and their OEM products during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show (February 10-19, 2012), including Katzkin’s design and execution partnership with Mopar Performance vehicles, such as those highlighting Mopar’s 75th anniversary.

Mopar vehicles, including the Fiat 500 “Stinger,” Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute, Mopar 12 “300,” and the Jeep Compass “True North,” will launch at the Chicago show with Katzkin leather interiors, defining Katzkin’s emerging role with OEMs to enable a new “genre” of specialty vehicles. Katzkin additionally is a chosen supplier for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Ford and Shelby American, and as such, continues to create enhancements that take design elements beyond mere functionality.

According to David O’Connell, Chief Designer for Katzkin Leather, innovative design is what highlights the Katzkin brand.

“While still seeking cost efficiencies, today’s consumers are pursuing ways to create the ultimate statement and personalization to their vehicles, and in general, their lifestyles,” O’Connell said. “Katzkin offers customers a choice in interior transformation that far exceeds any factory level option, including distinguished designs created for hundreds of individual vehicle models — designs that inspire the unique character of the vehicle, while transforming its interior to an ultimate statement.”
One key to Katzkin’s success has been its ability to give consumers more choices, and OEMs have appreciated the opportunity to provide these types of options within their own networks. As the only authorized and approved leather source for Mopar since 2003, Katzkin’s relationship with Mopar has evolved into a true partnership.

In working with Mopar, Brooks Mayberry, CEO of Katzkin Leather noted that Katzkin has developed unique, one-of-a-kind interiors that meet these demands and are showcased in “buzz vehicles” such as the recent Mopar 11 Charger and the Fast Five Charger (of “Fast & Furious” movie fame).

And when Michigan-based Ram dealers wanted to enhance their partnership with the Detroit Red Wings hockey team, and celebrate the Ram truck’s status as “Official Truck of the Red Wings,” local dealers began selling a limited number of special Red Wings Edition Ram trucks; Katzkin created the specialized interior to include the Red Wings logo. Katzkin expects to expand these niche segments for 2012 with additional interior design and execution for more regional lifestyle vehicles including Ram’s “Big Horn,” “Lone Star” and “Mile High” models.

Mayberry sees these specialized opportunities as a partnership proposition which allows OEMs to create niche products that large-scale manufacturers can’t easily capture, due to sheer volume constraints. Mayberry concedes, “We’ve become the enabler that can help a large manufacturer reach a boutique audience and create a powerful branding message for the OEM — while providing the customer a sense of empowerment through choice and exclusivity.”