TRW's Modular Airbag Kits Reduce Development Time and Deliver Affordable Safety

KARLSRUHE, Germany, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is introducing its range of modular airbag kits which have been developed to significantly reduce implementation time and make the systems more affordable. The products are designed to fit multiple vehicles and consist of a 'baseline' product that can be scaled and adjusted to meet global vehicle platforms.

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Norbert Kagerer, vice president engineering for TRW Occupant Safety Systems commented: "Car manufacturers are now creating new models in a timeframe where core safety technology suppliers have to be more efficient in implementing the multiple airbag modules fitted to them. TRW is working hand in hand with vehicle manufacturers in achieving these product lead times with its modular airbag kits - which deliver the same levels of design flexibility, performance and reliability as previous airbag modules.

"With the increasingly global nature of our industry, we have to find ways to be more efficient.  TRW delivers solutions for a range of models from the luxury segment to low cost vehicles in emerging markets, while looking to deliver the best possible value to our vehicle manufacturer customers and consumers.  We improve the affordability of occupant safety products through standardization and improved scale."

Until recently, airbag modules have often been 'individual' solutions designed around the inflator to fit into the desired package space which could take several years to develop.  Similar cars – even those from the same company – would frequently require varying equipment levels for different global regions making the task of airbag development increasingly complex.

TRW has addressed this challenge with modular airbag kits for driver and passenger-side airbags, side impact airbags, curtain airbags, and knee protection airbags. For example, its latest generation of airbag inflators – the DI10 series – is a major innovation in modular airbag development. The products are designed to be assembled from construction kits of standard components with many parts common to all types. All such DI10 inflators have the same diameter with the gas volume controlled by having designs of different heights to accommodate the required propellant loads. Due to compact dimensions and its scalable gas output, TRW can integrate DI10 inflator technology in both driver and passenger airbag modules.

Kagerer added: "Regulations and industry pressures – including the boom of automotive industries in developing markets – are driving the uptake of occupant safety technology on global vehicle platforms. In order to meet the considerable diversity in legislative and customer-driven requirements around the world, scalable solutions are a must - particularly in markets such as Brazil and China where increased levels of mobility and cost awareness are important factors."

About TRW

With 2009 sales of $11.6 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 can 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, 2009 (our "Form 10-K") and our Form 10-Q for each of the quarters ended April 2,  July 2, and October 1, 2010, such as: any shortage of supplies adversely affecting us; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; disruptions in the financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; any further material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results, liquidity or the viability of our supply base; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting 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; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including foreign exchange risks and economic and political uncertainty in some regions; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights; the possibility that our largest stockholder's interests will conflict with our or our other stockholders' interests; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the 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.