TRW Automotive Wins Automotive News' PACE Award for Active Control Retractor

Occupant protection technology honored for its active and passive safety systems integration

LIVONIA, Mich., March 12 -- TRW Automotive's Active Control Retractor (ACR) technology was recently honored with a Premier Automotive Suppliers' & OEMs Contributions to Excellence award for original equipment suppliers. The company received the prestigious award in the product - Europe category, which recognizes new innovations that have significant market impact and were first commercialized in Europe.

"We are honored to be a recipient of the 2004 PACE Award, which is held in such high-regard within the automotive industry," said Peter J. Lake, vice president, sales and business development for TRW Automotive. "This award helps to solidify our position as a leading supplier of world-class safety systems and confirms our ability to successfully integrate passive and active safety technologies."

Introduced on the 2003 Mercedes S-Class, TRW Automotive's ACR is the first active seat belt system on the market. The ACR was designed to use braking and stability control sensor information to pre-tension the seatbelt should it sense a potential loss of vehicle control. The system accordingly removes the seatbelt slack to help better position the occupant in relation to the vehicle's airbag supplemental restraint system. The ACR's electronic drive unit, which is integrated into the seatbelt system, acts as part of the Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system and resets itself if the critical event is avoided.

The ACR technology was developed in close cooperation by the core engineering team at TRW Automotive's state-of-the-art occupant safety system facility in Alfdorf, Germany and their engineering counterparts at Mercedes- Benz. TRW is currently advancing development processes for its second generation ACR system.

The ACR has also been honored with the gold trophy for original equipment for vehicles in the International Grand Prize for Technology Innovation at the Equip Auto show in Paris, Spain's Motortec Galeria de Innovacion (Gallery of Innovation) 2003 award and was recognized by the World Traffic Symposium.

This is the 10th year that Automotive News has honored innovative automotive suppliers through the PACE Awards, which are co-sponsored by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center, Inc.

The program recognizes automotive industry participants -- suppliers and OEMS -- that have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to keep abreast of the constantly rising performance bar of the OEM/customer. The prestigious program sets the standard for innovation and excellence and has become a significant industry credential.

About TRW

With 2003 pro forma sales of $11.3 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's top 10 automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 61,000 people in 22 countries. Its 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. TRW Automotive news is available on the Internet at www.trwauto.com .