TRW’s 24 GHz Radar Technology Draws Increasing OEM Interest

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LIVONIA, Mich., July 15, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TRW), the global leader in active and passive safety systems, today announced significant customer interest worldwide for its 24 GHz AC100 radar system and is currently working with a number of OEMs on development programs. The system offers a number of safety features including distance and collision warning, urban safety, follow to stop adaptive cruise control (“ACC”) and activation of reversible restraint systems and braking (such as prefill of brakes, adaptive brake assist).

Peter Lake, executive vice president, Sales and Business Development at TRW commented: “The AC100 system offers much of the functionality of our production 77 GHz system but at a significantly lower cost. Initially, radar based technology was only available on high end vehicles and at a significant cost to the end consumer. Developing a range of radar solutions enables us to bring the benefits of advanced safety to a wider vehicle market.”

In line with the European Commission’s targets to improve road safety, driver assist systems using radar technology represent an important market opportunity.

Lake continued: “With the proposal to mandate automatic emergency braking systems for medium and heavy commercial vehicles beginning in 2013, TRW’s AC100 system is an ideal fitment choice in combination with a forward looking camera to meet future truck manufacturer requirements.”

When operating as ACC, the 24 GHz system acts as normal cruise control – holding the vehicle at a set speed until a slower vehicle appears in front – then automatically brakes and accelerates the vehicle as needed to maintain a driver-selected gap (constant time interval) behind the slower vehicle. The information from the radar is analysed by electronics contained in the ACC unit.

Peter Austen, director of TRW’s DAS business, said: “The AC100 product captures data up to a range of approximately 150m and is suitable for most normal driving conditions, including highway driving, at up to 140 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, radar technology operates in all weather conditions, unlike laser based systems that rely on a clear optical path.”

TRW is also currently developing its third generation of 77GHz radar and manufactures its own radar units at a dedicated radar production facility based in Brest, France. The team there has developed the new radar in-house in cooperation with TRW braking engineers in the UK, Germany and the US. It currently supplies its second generation production 77GHz radar system to a number of passenger car and truck manufacturers.

About TRW

With 2008 sales of $15.0 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 approximately 61,000 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 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, 2008 (our “Form 10-K”), and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 3, 2009, such as: any prolonged contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results, liquidity or the viability of our supply base; the financial condition of OEMs, particularly the Detroit Three, adversely affecting us or the viability of our supply base; disruptions in the financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; our substantial debt and resulting vulnerability to an economic or industry downturn and to rising interest rates; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; our dependence on our largest customers; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to alter terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic 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 shareholder’s interests will conflict with ours; 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 revision to any of these forward-looking statements.

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Source: TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

CONTACT: Lynette Jackson of TRW Automotive, + 44-121-506-5315,
or Louise Colledge of TRW Automotive-Europe, + 44-121-627-3909,
Media Contact: John Wilkerson, +1-734-855-3864

Web Site: http://www.trwauto.com