TRW Launches Electrically Powered Steering Column Drive With Chinese Customers

SHANGHAI--April 22, 2013: AUTO SHANGHAI -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has recently started production of its electrically powered steering (EPS) column drive technology with a major Chinese vehicle manufacturer (VM) and is due to launch with three further China domestic platforms in 2013. Production will be located at TRW's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Anting, China.

Charlie Cregeur, global director, Steering Product Planning, said: "TRW is a global leader in EPS and is pleased to support our customers in China with this advanced technology. Chinese VMs continue to increase the level of sophistication in their vehicles, with a strong focus on reducing emissions and improving fuel economy -- EPS strongly supports these goals."

TRW offers two Electrically Powered Steering (EPS) solutions to cover the full vehicle platform range, which consume power to any significant degree only when steering assist is needed. The first is the column drive unit which is mounted on the steering column inside the passenger compartment and the second is belt drive where the assist is applied directly to the rack with a belt and ball nut mechanism. Significant fuel economy and CO₂ emissions benefits can be realized with both systems when compared with traditional hydraulic power steering. The technology can deliver a fuel saving of 0.3 to 0.4 L/100km, with a corresponding reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 7-8g/km (based on test data for a 1.6 litre gas engine).

"TRW has invested significantly and continues to expand its capacity for several advanced technology products to meet the needs of the China market," continued Cregeur. "We recently expanded our EPS and electronics manufacturing center in Anting, and have added new plants and expanded our footprint in Wuhan, Qingdao, Nanjing, Chengdu and Ningbo. TRW is creating the infrastructure to meet all market needs -- from domestic vehicles to global platforms."