TRW Develops Second Generation Scalable Airbag Electronic Control Units for Global Markets

LIVONIA, Mich., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is developing its second generation scalable airbag control unit (ACU) designed for the growing low-cost vehicle and emerging markets.  This intelligent solution allows the ACU to be adapted within a vehicle platform to offer two options – standard and enhanced – for models sold within emerging territories and also for those exported to developed markets.

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Ed Carpenter, vice president, TRW Electronics, said: "We continue to seek ways to ensure that all vehicles can be equipped with advanced safety equipment. Our second generation scalable ACU offers emerging market OEMs the opportunity to fit their vehicles with advanced safety equipment and the new units will include the option to integrate the inertial measurement unit (IMU) into the ACU to sense vehicle yaw, a key technology for the growing electronic stability control (ESC) market."

The standard ACU is configured for cost-effective frontal crash protection with one to four squib outputs and no satellite interfaces, but provides the flexibility to be upgraded for use in an enhanced safety system.

The enhanced ACU supports up to twelve squibs and four satellite interfaces to provide front and side impact detection and protection, and is designed to handle the additional functional requirements to meet European and / or North American safety requirements. This includes the option to add an inertial measurement unit to support active safety systems such as ESC.

With the updated design, costs have been further reduced for the enhanced ACU variants with 8 squibs or more, providing vehicle manufacturers greater flexibility and competitiveness. To reduce tooling and engineering costs and design complexity further, the scalable ACU family uses a standardized mechanical design including the connector. This enables economic production of ACUs even for relatively small OEMs with low volume platforms and/ or low airbag fitment rates.

TRW is leading the way in the performance/price ratio with this second generation airbag controller, fulfilling the need for cost effective ACUs not only for value oriented manufacturers but also for emerging markets including Brazil, Russia, India and China. The Company envisions that the technology will be ready for production by 2014.

About TRW
With 2011 sales of $16.2 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, 2011 (our "Form 10-K"), and our Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended April 1, July 1 and September 30, 2011, such as: any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our financial condition, results, cash flows or reputation; general economic conditions causing a material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results or the viability of our supply base; the unsuccessful implementation of our current expansion efforts adversely impacting our business and results; 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; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; increasing costs negatively impacting our profitability; the loss of any of our largest customers materially adversely affecting us; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic and political uncertainty in some regions, adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; 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; 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, our mix of earnings between jurisdictions or other factors; any impairment of a significant amount of our goodwill or other intangible assets; any disruption in our information technology systems adversely impacting our business and operations; 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.