Valeo Wins the Innovation Award at Automechanika for its Lane Departure Warning System

PARIS, France, September 15 -- The Lane Departure Warning System, designed by Valeo in partnership with Iteris, has won the Innovation Award for the Systems and Modules category at Automechanika in Germany, in recognition of the intelligence and usefulness of this new driving assistance system.

Valeo Chairman and CEO Thierry Morin comments: "This award demonstrates Valeo's commitment to providing electronic solutions for improving driving comfort and road safety."

Using a miniature video sensor linked to an electronic control unit, the Lane Departure Warning System monitors the lane markings ahead of the car. If the car strays over the line without the indicator being activated, the driver is alerted by a sound signal or a vibration in the seat, and informed of the corrective action to take.

Preventing unintentional lane changes will help to avoid a large number of accidents. The latest figures show that drowsiness and inattention cause a third of accidents in Europe and the United States. The system also helps to encourage the correct use of direction indicators.

The result of two years' collaboration with Iteris, this innovation will appear in North America on the Nissan Infiniti FX45 in early 2005.

Valeo is an independent industrial group entirely focused on the design, manufacture, and sale of components, integrated systems, and modules for cars and trucks. It is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. The Group has 128 production sites, 65 R&D centers, 9 distribution centers, and employs 68,700 people in 26 countries.