Autoliv Contributes to Record Safety Rating

    STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 29 In the European crash test
program Euro NCAP that was started in 1996, Renault's new Laguna, to which
Autoliv is the exclusive supplier of safety systems, recently
became the first vehicle ever to receive the highest possible rating -- five
stars.  As part of this Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), 86 vehicles in
six categories have been crash tested.
    The Euro NCAP tests have set a new common European standard for
crashworthiness.  The program is backed by five European countries and the
European Commission, as well as by motoring and consumer organizations in
every European country.  The Euro NCAP tests measure how well a vehicle
protects the front and back seats occupants in a frontal crash and a side
impact collision.
    When the new test requirements were announced, some manufacturers said
that they were so stringent that it would be impossible to reach a full
five star rating.  But now Renault has achieved this with the Laguna model
that was launched early this year.
    The safety restraint systems of the new Laguna has been upgraded in
several ways with, for instance, such new safety systems as Autoliv's patented
Inflatable Curtain for protecting the head in side impacts and Autoliv's
latest generation of safety electronics.
    The new Laguna also has Autoliv's new frontal airbags system for which
Autoliv last year received the Annual Award of the British Automobile
Association.  In this system, the volume of the airbags can be adjusted to the
severity of the crash.  This is accomplished by deploying one or two charges
in the system's dual-stage gas generators.  With both stages being deployed,
specially designed tear-seams on the side of the airbags rip apart and a
bigger bag is unfolded.
    Additionally, the new Laguna has been equipped with double pretensioners
for the driver, which makes the Laguna the first vehicle in the world with
this safety enhancement.  The seat belt can thereby not only be tightened at
the onset of a crash as with a regular pretensioning system, but the
tightening can be adjusted to the severity of the crash.  Regular
pretensioners are installed in the seat belt systems for the front seat
occupant and the outer-rear seat positions.  All seat belts are equipped with
load limiters that release some webbing before the load on the occupant's
chest becomes too high.
    Other safety systems in the Laguna are side-impact airbags for chest
protection in the seats.  These bags are standard in the front seats and
offered as an option in the back seat.
    In line with the global trend in the auto industry and Renault's policy to
purchase products as systems, Autoliv is also the supplier of the steering
wheel to the Laguna.
    "We are delighted and proud to have been selected by Renault to be the
supplier and development partner for the new Laguna and are very pleased with
the results of this cooperation", said Mr. Lars Westerberg, Autoliv's
President and Chief Executive Officer.
    "The basis for this productive cooperation is, of course, Renault's own
ambitions and efforts in automotive safety and Renault's OPTIMA policy which
gives certain selected supplier more flexibility and possibilities to look for
ways to optimize the efficiency and performance of a vehicle during the very
early stages of new car development.  Our responsibility in this partnership
is also to suggest and develop ever more sophisticated and innovative safety
technologies", concluded Lars Westerberg.
    For additional information: http://www.euroncap.com and http://www.renault.com

    Autoliv Inc. develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all
major automotive manufacturers in the world.  Together with its joint ventures
Autoliv has close to 80 facilities with almost 30,000 employees in more than
30 vehicle-producing countries.  In addition, the company has eight technical
centers around the world, including 19 test tracks, more than any other
automotive safety supplier.  Sales in 2000 amounted to US $4.1 billion and net
income to US $170 million.  The company's shares are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and its Swedish Depositary Receipts on the OM
Stockholm Stock Exchange (SSE: ALIV).