TRW Automotive Is Number One in Electrically Assisted Steering - Contracts Reach $4.5 Billion With Two New Wins

LIVONIA, Mich., Oct. 21 TRW Automotive, a world leader in active and passive safety systems for the global automotive industry, has confirmed its number one global position in electrically assisted steering (EAS), by announcing two new contract awards. The awards bring the company's global EAS contract gains for the next five years to a total of $4.5 billion.

One of the most recent contract nominations is a further order valued around $150 million from a leading European vehicle manufacturer for TRW's breakthrough column drive electrically powered steering (EPS) starting production this year. This technology is already fitted on three new European models including the Fiat Stilo.

The other contract is for electrically powered hydraulic steering (EPHS) systems for a global vehicle manufacturer. The contract is valued at more than $180 million annually in North America and Europe starting production in 2004. TRW's previous EPHS contract wins include the Volkswagen Passat and Polo and Opel Vectra, Zafir and Astra models.

John Plant, president and chief executive officer, TRW Automotive, said: "These contracts further demonstrate TRW's technology leadership in steering systems. We are strong across the range of steering technologies and continue to work with our customers to develop systems that are changing the marketplace."

Demand is expected to continue to boom for electric steering technology, eventually increasing to an estimated one out of every two cars built by the year 2010. Fueling this growth, TRW's electric steering portfolio offers customers simplified vehicle assembly, increased fuel economy, better vehicle handling and improved safety.

Product planning director, steering, Nick Ford, added: "TRW offers a complete range of electrically assisted steering systems to meet the needs of our customers and we continue to develop our systems to ensure that customers can take advantage of the ride and handling benefits that the latest technologies can deliver.

"TRW is also looking to the future in terms of steer-by-wire and four- wheel steering systems and integration of chassis control. For example, we have a development contract for steer-by-wire with a major European vehicle manufacturer where we're establishing the optimum method of removing the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the road wheels. In addition, we're developing rear wheel steering systems to deliver four wheel steering for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and other larger vehicles to reduce the turning circle and offer improved stability for vehicles carrying loads or for emergency maneuvers.

"With our expertise in integrating systems and our strengths across the chassis systems portfolio, we are ideally placed to lead the market as it develops the next generation of steering and integrated vehicle control systems."

Technical information

TRW electrically assisted steering systems such as EPHS or EPS rack-, column-, pinion-, and belt-drive configurations, eliminate the need for the engine to provide mechanical power for the steering system, yielding significant cost and performance benefits. The technologies accommodate the needs of manufacturers as they migrate vehicles from hydraulics, through semi- hydraulics to fully electric systems.

EPHS eliminates belts, pulleys and all direct connection with the engine, combining an advanced brushless motor, hydraulic power steering pump, electronic unit and reservoir into an easy to install unit. In addition, all electric steering systems offer enhanced fuel efficiency because they consume power only when steering assist is required.

Column-drive EPS is a cost-effective design for many vehicle platforms because it locates the EPS motor in the passenger compartment. This arrangement enables lower requirements concerning temperature and sealing in comparison to systems that mount the motor in the engine compartment.