TRW on the Radar Ahead of Euro NCAP Active Safety Ratings

LIVONIA, Mich., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), is highlighting its full range of Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) technologies at a customer event in Hockenheim, Germany.  TRW is unveiling a new modular radar platform and next generation camera which will enable the Company to deliver advanced safety in an affordable and flexible way to meet the more stringent active and pedestrian safety criteria planned to be introduced by Euro NCAP from 2014 onwards.

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Peter Lake, executive vice president for Sales and Business Development said: "TRW has vast experience in the DAS market, with our radar systems having been available on production models for over a decade. With several production awards and development contracts for our camera and radar technologies, our DAS business is in a strong position to help vehicle manufactures meet Euro NCAP's intended new 5 star rating criteria, particularly in terms of the increased pedestrian detection capability requirements."

Euro NCAP's next step is to promote the voluntary fitment of Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) by making it an important contributor to achieve a Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating, potentially from 2014. Additionally, the ability to protect pedestrians with an AEB system may be required by some vehicle models from 2016 to gain the 5 star rating in the pedestrian category, depending on their passive safety performance.

TRW continues to develop its DAS portfolio to assist vehicle manufacturers in acquiring the top ratings across all relevant categories: without such advanced active safety systems a 5 star rating may not be achievable under the new criteria.

Alois Seewald, global director, Cognitive Safety Integration for TRW, added: "We are working on our third generation camera technology which will be capable of processing higher resolution images to enable an extended sensing range and improved pedestrian detection functionality.

"Also, our next generation modular AC1000 radar platform will provide sensors with a number of safety and convenience functions, with performance optimized to meet the Euro NCAP requirements for AEB.  Having reviewed the proposed new test procedures, we are confident that these new TRW technologies are affordable solutions to support customers in delivering the safety everyone deserves."

TRW's radars can offer a full range of DAS functions including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), AEB, Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Side Impact Sensing (SIS), while our cameras offer Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) or Lane Centering Assist (LCA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and pedestrian detection for AEB among other features. 

At the event, TRW also highlighted its 24 GHz radar (AC100) in combination with its scalable video camera (S-CAM) to enable pedestrian detection with AEB. The system fuses information from the sensors and if a pedestrian is detected, sophisticated risk assessment algorithms are employed to determine the probability of a collision by taking into account the predicted paths of the vehicle and the pedestrian. A warning is then issued, or if no action is taken, brake pressure is initiated with the aim of slowing the vehicle and helping to reduce the severity of the impact.  These technologies are due to launch in the 2014 timeframe.

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 Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2012 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; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers adversely affecting our operations; 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.