TRW Pedestrian Protection Systems evolve to Meet Global Challenges

LIVONIA, Mich., July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is announcing its next generation Pedestrian Protection System (PPS) - a robust and reliable system using a combination of acceleration and pressure sensing technologies to detect a pedestrian impact.

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"While the auto industry continues its focus on reducing injuries in single and multiple vehicle crashes and reductions in deaths and injuries have been realized in developed markets, pedestrian fatalities continue to increase globally," said Peter Lake, executive vice president of Sales and Business Development for TRW.  "It is estimated that some 35% of global road fatalities involve pedestrians and other road users outside of a traditional four-wheel vehicle, and enhancing their protection is one of the next great frontiers for both active and passive safety systems.

"In addition, occupant fatality rates are falling faster in many developed markets than pedestrian fatalities, making pedestrians an increasingly larger percentage of overall road deaths and leading to an increasing industry focus on pedestrian protection," Lake added.

TRW's latest PPS utilizes pressure sensor satellite data measured via flexible tubing that runs the width of a vehicle's front bumper, in conjunction with up to three remote acceleration sensors to detect an impact and identify which side of the vehicle the pedestrian has impacted. The system will also help automakers maintain 5 star safety ratings in Europe, where pedestrian protection accounts for 20 percent of a vehicle's overall score.

TRW has been in production with its first generation pedestrian protection systems (PPS) since 2009 for Porsche and has since launched PPS with Chrysler. These systems comprise remote acceleration sensors and either a dedicated ECU or an airbag ECU which integrates the pedestrian protection system algorithm to detect a pedestrian impact, and hood lifters which can be deployed to increase the gap to the vehicle's engine and help cushion pedestrian impact. The sensors detect an impact and pyrotechnic actuators then raise the rear area of the vehicle's hood to increase pedestrian head protection. This helps to decrease the impact of the most drastic, and most common, cause of pedestrian injury and death.

TRW's second-generation systems work in a similar fashion but add additional sensing capabilities to improve system performance and robustness.TRW anticipates the new system will be ready for production by 2016.

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; any shortage of specialty resins or other supplies causing a production disruption for any customers or us; 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; 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.