TRW Automotive Puts the Thinking Into Safety Systems

SHANGHAI, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AUTO SHANGHAI - Hall W4, Stand C006 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. TRW is demonstrating its leadership in cognitive – or intelligent – safety solutions designed for a full range of vehicles, at the Auto Shanghai International Motorshow, in China, which opens today.  

John Plant, TRW Automotive chairman, president and chief executive officer, explained: "At Auto Shanghai this year we're demonstrating how TRW has the broadest portfolio of safety systems of any global supplier and how we're bringing this expertise to help protect drivers, occupants and other road users in China.

"We're expanding our safety campaign in China – highlighting the importance of vehicle safety – especially to wear seatbelts and increase road safety awareness.  Almost a quarter of global deaths in children are as a result of road traffic incidents, according to World Health Organization statistics.

"To tackle this key challenge, we have created a range of resources to support the communication of key messages about road safety to young people and will now focus on making the tools available as widely as possible."

TRW's presence at Auto Shanghai highlights how it is taking an elevated approach to safety in three ways: through advanced systems; by improving value and offering more affordable solutions; and through a range of innovative fuel efficient systems to help reduce the impact of harmful emissions on our environment. TRW's stand focuses on these three key areas which underpin Cognitive Safety: 'Advanced Thinking', 'Smart Thinking' and 'Green Thinking'.

Executive vice president of sales and business development, Peter Lake, remarked: "With Advanced Thinking, we're demonstrating to Auto Shanghai visitors how we use our suite of sensors to integrate radar, video, steering, brakes, crash sensors and more. For example, TRW is highlighting its Automatic Emergency Braking system, which is the ultimate expression of intelligent safety."

TRW is also highlighting a number of key technologies which deliver class leading fuel efficiency beyond powertrain, including electrically assisted steering and hybrid enabling braking technologies as well as innovative light weight braking solutions.

Lake continued: "TRW's Electrically Powered Steering (EPS) can deliver up to four per cent fuel efficiency compared to standard hydraulic steering: this Green Thinking is helping to support the strong focus in China on reducing emissions and improving fuel economy. We were proud to announce a number of contracts to introduce Column Drive EPS into China with several global and domestic vehicle manufacturers."

Under the banner of 'Smart Thinking', TRW is unveiling a number of technologies which represent its focus on affordable safety solutions and creating value. TRW is innovating to make the latest safety solutions accessible to all customers in all markets. This is achieved through integration, modularity and scalability.

Lake added: "One example is our ESC family where slip control functionality is introduced from ABS and standard ESC through to ESC Premium and ESC PH – our regenerative braking solution.  The technology is delivered with a modular approach with the aim of sharing the maximum number of parts across the different system architectures for greater production efficiency."

TRW is investing heavily in capacity for several advanced technology products to meet the needs of the China market. In the next two years, it plans to add local production capabilities for a number of advanced technologies such as electric power steering, airbag inflators and electronic stability control.

Technology highlights include:

About TRW

With 2010 sales of $14.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs over 60,000 people worldwide.  TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services.  All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.  TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at www.trw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  All forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (our "Form 10-K"), such as: tighter financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; a material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results or the viability of our supply base; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption; increasing costs negatively impacting our profitability; the loss of any of our largest customers materially adversely affecting us; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to adversely alter contract terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; costs or liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations adversely affecting our results; risks associated with non-U.S. operations adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans reducing our profitability; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers adversely affecting our operations; volatility in our annual effective tax rate resulting from a change in our valuation allowances position or other factors;   and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.