TRW Automotive Occupant Protection Technology Selected as Finalist for PACE Award

LIVONIA, Mich., Oct. 20, 2004 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. today announced its Next Generation Roll Over Curtain Inflator (ROI V2) -- the first inflator to utilize cold gas to fill the airbag -- has been named a finalist in the Product category for the 2005 Automotive News PACE Award competition. The PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) awards program -- jointly sponsored by Automotive News, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and the Transportation Research Center Inc. -- has been referred to as the "academy award for innovation in the automotive industry." The ROI V2 inflator is produced by TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., a subsidiary of TRW Automotive Inc.

"We are honored to be nominated for this prestigious award and are delighted to be recognized again for this 'next generation' safety innovation, which helps improve occupant protection during a rollover vehicle event," said Peter J. Lake, vice president, Sales and Business Development for TRW Automotive.

The ROI V2's cold gas can keep the side curtain airbag inflated for the duration of a rollover event, which is typically a longer event than front- or side-impact crashes. This can help keep passengers inside the vehicle and, therefore, can help mitigate head and other injuries.

The cold helium gas of the ROI V2 is stored under pressure in a cylinder. A small ignition device is attached near a rupture disk at the end of the bottle. When the vehicle's safety electronics system senses an incident, an electrical signal is sent to the ignition device that sets off a small pyrotechnic charge that opens the rupture disk. The cold helium gas then flows out to the pressurized cylinder, inflates the airbag and can hold the pressure at a relatively constant level for up to six seconds. Traditional airbag inflators use a combination of gas and heat to fill the airbag. When these hot gas systems are used in a rollover application, the airbag tends to soften as the gas cools.

The ROI V2 was developed by the TRW Automotive engineering team in Mesa, Arizona. In September 2003, TRW launched the inflator on the new Acura TL and Acura MDX programs for MY 04, and a few months later on the Honda Japan Odyssey program. This exclusive TRW cold gas inflator technology originally launched on the Ford Explorer and Expedition in the 2002 model year, and is also used on combination seatbelt airbags on commercial aircraft.

About TRW

With 2003 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. 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 http://www.trwauto.com/ .