TRW Automotive Announces Joint Venture With Xi'an Dong Fang Group Co., Ltd to Manufacture Airbag Inflators In China

SHANGHAI, March 19 -- TRW Asia Pacific Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. today signed a joint venture agreement with Xi'an Dong Fang Group Co., Ltd, a division of China North Industries Group Corporation, to set up an airbag inflator and seat belt pretensioner manufacturing facility in Xi'an, Shanxi Province, China. The intention is to start production before the end of the year.

Nancy Gougarty, vice president of Asia Pacific Operations, said: "This is an important development that demonstrates a continued commitment to expanding our manufacturing footprint here in China. TRW has a long established presence in China and continues to invest to ensure that we support our global and domestic customers in this vibrant market."

Through its six joint ventures and three wholly owned plants, TRW manufactures all elements of its safety system portfolio of airbags, seat belts, steering wheels, braking, steering and suspension products in China. The Company also has its Asia Pacific research and development center and a winter test track in the country.

Dong Fang Group is among the leading 500 machinery companies in China and the top 30 in Shanxi Province. The new joint venture with the Dong Fang Group expands TRW's manufacturing footprint of advanced occupant safety into Northwest China. TRW's established production bases in Shanghai have long been helping its Chinese partners raise the bar of driver and passenger safety, introducing a series of new technologies that improve vehicle intelligence and fuel efficiency.

Frank Mueller, vice president and general manager, Global Occupant Safety Systems, TRW Automotive, commented: "We will be manufacturing our latest airbag inflator and seat belt pretensioner technologies to support the China market, with a focus on delivering affordable safety technologies for our customers.

"We also have plans to expand the product range to include side and curtain airbag inflators next year. We are proud to be entering into this partnership with Xi'an Dong Fang Group Co., Ltd."

About TRW

With 2009 sales of $11.6 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs approximately 63,600 people worldwide. 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 www.trw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which can cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (our "Form 10-K"), , such as: the financial condition of our customers adversely affecting us or the viability of our supply base; disruptions in the financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; any shortage of supplies adversely affecting us; any further material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results, liquidity or the viability of our supply base; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; our dependence on our largest customers; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to adversely alter contract terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; costs or liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations; our substantial debt and resulting vulnerability to economic or industry downturns and to rising interest rates; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including foreign exchange risks and economic uncertainty in some regions; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights; the possibility that our largest stockholder's interests will conflict with ours or our other stockholders' interests; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revision to any of these forward-looking statements.

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