Safety Tech, a division of GAUZY, is a Lyon-based company with a long history in the rearview mirror sector. Being a manufacturer of mechanical mirrors since 1928, the company embarked on a shift towards electronics in 2012, investing first and foremost in research and development. As a result, GAUZY’s Safety Tech division became the first French company to have a camera monitoring system approved in 2017. The Smart-Vision® system is gradually being fitted to buses in major cities such as Lyon, London, Geneva, New York…
By 2021, orders were pouring in, and the company identified the need to invest in its production facilities to modernize and adapt them to its new products.
Benkei supported GAUZY in preparing its application for funding under the Plan de Relance – Modernisation de la Filière Automobile. In the course of this support, Benkei contributed to the development of a coherent business case, demonstrating GAUZY’s future ability to serve Europe with its devices, and to move upmarket by introducing advanced driver assistance functionalities into its devices (e.g., detection of pedestrians, cyclists…).
From identifying the value proposition, to assessing the relevance of the innovation, including quantifying the economic, societal and environmental impacts, Benkei enabled GAUZY to demonstrate the interest of its technological and industrial project to the funding authorities, and thus obtain a €1.2 million grant. 
Since then, Benkei has continued to support GAUZY, enabling it to secure this funding and meet the expectations of the funding authority, by adapting to changes in the project – such as the company’s new focus on the truck market, and the corresponding need for innovation. This support, integrating financial and technical monitoring, enabled GAUZY’s Safety Tech division to receive the balance of this aid in 2024 – one year after moving into its new, modern plant, sized for the challenges of the future.
“We’ve been working with Benkei on various aspects of our innovation strategy for almost 10 years… in other words, virtually since their creation. Their support in drafting responses to funding calls has been decisive in obtaining crucial funding, enabling the development of new innovative and ground-breaking products such as Smart-Vision® (the camera monitoring system replacing the classic mechanical rear-view mirror). Benkei also supports us in the rigorous monitoring of these innovative projects, guaranteeing their success at every stage, from procurement to restitution. This support also includes very active assistance with our Research Tax Credit (CIR) applications.
Benkei has been with us at every step of the way, from proof-of-concept to the industrialization of mass-produced products, and their actions have made a major contribution to the success of our company’s transformation. Today, our teams have almost doubled in size and sales are growing by 30% every year, driven by these innovative products. The commitment of Benkei team at every stage of this transformation has been decisive. The ease of working with Benkei, combined with the trust established with their consultants, made this collaboration particularly fruitful. Their professionalism and commitment make Benkei a partner of choice for any company looking to innovate and grow.”
Jérôme Seneschal : ADAS Innovation and Research Director, ADAS Competences Center, Division Safety Tech
David Le Berre : Executive Vice President, ADAS Competences Center, Division Safety Tech