The Company	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
The Company [Abstract]
The Company	Note 1 – The Company The Company designs, develops and markets proprietary technology electronic components and systems for sale to car and truck original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"). As described in Note 3, the Company recently acquired a majority interest in W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG ("W.E.T."), a developer, manufacturer and distributor of heating systems, interior equipment and accessories used in automobile seats and other automotive and electronic applications in the automotive industry. The activities of W.E.T. represent a significant portion of the Company's consolidated assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. See Note 3 for more information concerning the acquisition of W.E.T. The Company's primary product is the Climate Control Seat™ ("CCS™"), which provides year-round comfort by providing both heating and cooling to seat occupants. The Company has shipped approximately 8300 units of its CCS product through September 2011. Although the Company markets CCS to OEMs, the Company's primary customers are the OEM's tier one seating suppliers including, Johnson Controls, Inc. ("JCI"), Lear Corporation ("Lear"), Bridgewater Interiors, LLC ("Bridgewater"), NHK Spring Company, Ltd ("NHK"), Marubeni Vehicle Corporation ("Marubeni"), Dymos Incorporated ("Dymos"), Faurecia NHK Kyushu Co. Ltd ("Faurecia NHK"), Faurecia Wuhan Auto Seating ("Faurecia Wuhan"), Tacle Seating USA ("Tacle") and Magna Seating of America, Inc.("Magna"). Since the initial introduction of CCS, we have introduced new designs that incorporated improvements in electrical efficiency, size, weight, and noise and are more versatile. These include our Micro Thermal Module™ ("MTM™" or "MTM") technology and our CCS II configuration. Further improvements in engineering design are currently in development and are expected to be introduced on future vehicle models. In 2008, we launched a heated and ventilated only variant of the CCS. This product works in a similar fashion to our CCS, only there is no active cooling capability and no Thermoelectric Device (TED). In the cooling mode, the vent only system will use the ambient cabin air to provide a degree of cooling comfort to the seat occupant. In the heating mode, the vent only system will be supplemented with more traditional resistive heating elements. This system has a lower price and is targeted to certain lower cost vehicle models and certain geographical markets. In 2009, we were awarded a contract to manufacture an automotive heated and cooled cup holder for the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. The cup holder has been designed to be packaged in multiple configurations to accommodate different console environments. In addition to requiring low power consumption, it has proven automotive grade, ruggedness, high reliability and drink retention features. The cup holder has two cup positions that provide for separate temperature settings in each holder that allow the driver and passenger to individually control the heating or cooling of their respective beverages. The technology used in the cup holder is similar to that of the CCS system. The cup holder was launched at the end of the fourth quarter of 2010. In September 2010, we launched our actively heated and cooled suite of luxury mattresses. The mattresses provide individual controls via two wireless remotes to actively heat and cool each side of the mattress independently. We sell the mattresses through U.S. based specialty mattress retailer, Mattress Firm, Incorporated ("Mattress Firm"). Mattress Firm has over 580 retail stores located across 22 states. The new mattresses are sold under the brand name YuMe™ and are available in King and Queen sizes. The Company is also engaged in a program to improve the efficiency of TEDs and to develop, market and distribute new products based on this technology. On September 1, 2009, our subsidiary, BSST LLC ("BSST") entered into a partnership agreement with 5N Plus Inc., a Canadian corporation specializing in production of high-purity metals ("5N Plus"), to form ZT Plus. ZT Plus' objective is the development and testing of new materials that show increased thermoelectric efficiency. BSST purchased 5N Plus' 50% ownership of ZT Plus in March 2010 and is now the 100% owner. On October 1, 2010, we formed Amerigon Europe GmbH ("Amerigon Europe") and opened a technical support office in Augsburg, Germany, to provide design initiatives, product development, application engineering and prototype builds in support of European sales. As described in Note 3, on May 16, 2011 the Company acquired a majority interest in W.E.T., a German publicly traded company based in Odelzhausen, Germany. W.E.T. was established in 1968 and currently employs approximately 5,000 individuals at 11 locations. W.E.T.'s customers include passenger car OEMs, commercial vehicle OEMs and Tier 1 seat manufacturers. W.E.T.'s primary product categories include automotive seat comfort systems and specialized automotive cable systems. The automotive seat comfort systems category includes automotive seat heaters, climate comfort systems (similar to Amerigon's climate controlled seat technology) for automotive seats, automotive steering wheel heater systems and integrated electronic components. The specialized automotive cable systems category includes ready-made wire harnesses and related wiring products. W.E.T. has been a manufacturer in the seat comfort segment since 1973. W.E.T.'s primary customers are Tier 1 suppliers: Johnson Controls, Lear, Faurecia, and Magna, and large automotive original equipment manufacturers: the VW Group, General Motors, BMW, Porsche, Honda, and Toyota / Lexus. W.E.T. also offers product solutions to other customer groups, namely customer groups related to seat heating equipment for the automotive aftermarket, ski lifts and sports stadiums and the production of ventilation systems for the automotive and various other industries. These operations complement W.E.T.'s automotive seat comfort products, particularly in seat climate comfort systems, in which ventilation systems represent a material part. Furthermore, W.E.T.'s customer base for these other products extends beyond the automotive industry to the telecommunications and information technology industries. Historically, the majority of W.E.T.'s sales volume has been derived from European and North American OEMs. However, in the past three years, Asian automobile sales have increased due to the growth in that geographic segment, and North American sales volume has increased due to increased penetration into the North American market as heated seats have become a standard feature on an increased number of vehicle models. W.E.T. maintains a global operational structure with manufacturing sites close to its key customers. W.E.T.'s European operations are primarily concentrated around its headquarters and customer service center in Odelzhausen, as well as its Hungarian and Ukrainian sites. W.E.T. operates three sites in North America, a customer service and research center located in Windsor, Canada, a warehouse facility located in Del Rio, Texas and a production site located in Acuña, Mexico. In Asia, W.E.T. operates a low-cost production facility including customer service and research and development functions in Langfang, China and maintains representative offices in Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan. W.E.T.'s China operation was established in 2003 and serves the South Korean, Japanese, Chinese and certain European markets. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date that the consolidated condensed financial statements were issued. See Note 8 – Debt and Subsequent Event for a description of significant events that occurred through the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements issuance date.

Note 1 – The Company

The Company designs, develops and markets proprietary technology electronic components and systems for sale to car and truck original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"). As described in Note 3, the Company recently acquired a majority interest in W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG ("W.E.T."), a developer, manufacturer and distributor of heating systems, interior equipment and accessories used in automobile seats and other automotive and electronic applications in the automotive industry. The activities of W.E.T. represent a significant portion of the Company's consolidated assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. See Note 3 for more information concerning the acquisition of W.E.T.

The Company's primary product is the Climate Control Seat™ ("CCS™"), which provides year-round comfort by providing both heating and cooling to seat occupants. The Company has shipped approximately 8300 units of its CCS product through September 2011. Although the Company markets CCS to OEMs, the Company's primary customers are the OEM's tier one seating suppliers including, Johnson Controls, Inc. ("JCI"), Lear Corporation ("Lear"), Bridgewater Interiors, LLC ("Bridgewater"), NHK Spring Company, Ltd ("NHK"), Marubeni Vehicle Corporation ("Marubeni"), Dymos Incorporated ("Dymos"), Faurecia NHK Kyushu Co. Ltd ("Faurecia NHK"), Faurecia Wuhan Auto Seating ("Faurecia Wuhan"), Tacle Seating USA ("Tacle") and Magna Seating of America, Inc.("Magna").

Since the initial introduction of CCS, we have introduced new designs that incorporated improvements in electrical efficiency, size, weight, and noise and are more versatile. These include our Micro Thermal Module™ ("MTM™" or "MTM") technology and our CCS II configuration. Further improvements in engineering design are currently in development and are expected to be introduced on future vehicle models.

In 2008, we launched a heated and ventilated only variant of the CCS. This product works in a similar fashion to our CCS, only there is no active cooling capability and no Thermoelectric Device (TED). In the cooling mode, the vent only system will use the ambient cabin air to provide a degree of cooling comfort to the seat occupant. In the heating mode, the vent only system will be supplemented with more traditional resistive heating elements. This system has a lower price and is targeted to certain lower cost vehicle models and certain geographical markets.

In 2009, we were awarded a contract to manufacture an automotive heated and cooled cup holder for the 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. The cup holder has been designed to be packaged in multiple configurations to accommodate different console environments. In addition to requiring low power consumption, it has proven automotive grade, ruggedness, high reliability and drink retention features. The cup holder has two cup positions that provide for separate temperature settings in each holder that allow the driver and passenger to individually control the heating or cooling of their respective beverages. The technology used in the cup holder is similar to that of the CCS system. The cup holder was launched at the end of the fourth quarter of 2010.

In September 2010, we launched our actively heated and cooled suite of luxury mattresses. The mattresses provide individual controls via two wireless remotes to actively heat and cool each side of the mattress independently. We sell the mattresses through U.S. based specialty mattress retailer, Mattress Firm, Incorporated ("Mattress Firm"). Mattress Firm has over 580 retail stores located across 22 states. The new mattresses are sold under the brand name YuMe™ and are available in King and Queen sizes.

The Company is also engaged in a program to improve the efficiency of TEDs and to develop, market and distribute new products based on this technology.

On September 1, 2009, our subsidiary, BSST LLC ("BSST") entered into a partnership agreement with 5N Plus Inc., a Canadian corporation specializing in production of high-purity metals ("5N Plus"), to form ZT Plus. ZT Plus' objective is the development and testing of new materials that show increased thermoelectric efficiency. BSST purchased 5N Plus' 50% ownership of ZT Plus in March 2010 and is now the 100% owner.

On October 1, 2010, we formed Amerigon Europe GmbH ("Amerigon Europe") and opened a technical support office in Augsburg, Germany, to provide design initiatives, product development, application engineering and prototype builds in support of European sales.

As described in Note 3, on May 16, 2011 the Company acquired a majority interest in W.E.T., a German publicly traded company based in Odelzhausen, Germany. W.E.T. was established in 1968 and currently employs approximately 5,000 individuals at 11 locations. W.E.T.'s customers include passenger car OEMs, commercial vehicle OEMs and Tier 1 seat manufacturers.

W.E.T.'s primary product categories include automotive seat comfort systems and specialized automotive cable systems. The automotive seat comfort systems category includes automotive seat heaters, climate comfort systems (similar to Amerigon's climate controlled seat technology) for automotive seats, automotive steering wheel heater systems and integrated electronic components. The specialized automotive cable systems category includes ready-made wire harnesses and related wiring products. W.E.T. has been a manufacturer in the seat comfort segment since 1973.

W.E.T.'s primary customers are Tier 1 suppliers: Johnson Controls, Lear, Faurecia, and Magna, and large automotive original equipment manufacturers: the VW Group, General Motors, BMW, Porsche, Honda, and Toyota / Lexus.

W.E.T. also offers product solutions to other customer groups, namely customer groups related to seat heating equipment for the automotive aftermarket, ski lifts and sports stadiums and the production of ventilation systems for the automotive and various other industries. These operations complement W.E.T.'s automotive seat comfort products, particularly in seat climate comfort systems, in which ventilation systems represent a material part. Furthermore, W.E.T.'s customer base for these other products extends beyond the automotive industry to the telecommunications and information technology industries.

Historically, the majority of W.E.T.'s sales volume has been derived from European and North American OEMs. However, in the past three years, Asian automobile sales have increased due to the growth in that geographic segment, and North American sales volume has increased due to increased penetration into the North American market as heated seats have become a standard feature on an increased number of vehicle models.

W.E.T. maintains a global operational structure with manufacturing sites close to its key customers. W.E.T.'s European operations are primarily concentrated around its headquarters and customer service center in Odelzhausen, as well as its Hungarian and Ukrainian sites. W.E.T. operates three sites in North America, a customer service and research center located in Windsor, Canada, a warehouse facility located in Del Rio, Texas and a production site located in Acuña, Mexico. In Asia, W.E.T. operates a low-cost production facility including customer service and research and development functions in Langfang, China and maintains representative offices in Seoul, South Korea and Tokyo, Japan. W.E.T.'s China operation was established in 2003 and serves the South Korean, Japanese, Chinese and certain European markets.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date that the consolidated condensed financial statements were issued. See Note 8 – Debt and Subsequent Event for a description of significant events that occurred through the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements issuance date.