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TIER ONE Says World Airbag Sales Will Double

22 May 1998

TIER ONE Says World Airbag Sales Will Double 
             200 Million Airbags to be Sold Annually by Year 2005
                     Says California Market Research Firm

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 22 -- TIER ONE LC, an auto
electronics research company, projects the world airbag market will nearly
double from more than 106 million airbags produced in 1998 to nearly 200
million by 2005.  This forecast is part of TIER ONE's new Occupant Restraint
report, released today.
    "TIER ONE projects continued strong growth in airbag applications, which
will continue to propel this industry into the next century," according to
Morris Kindig, TIER ONE founder.  "More use of side-impact airbags, bags to
protect the head and knee, and new types of airbags, such as airbag 'curtains'
and inflatable seatbelts will drive this growth," according to Kindig.
"Continued penetration into the European and Asian markets is also a factor,"
added Kindig, quoting the new study.
    The new Occupant Restraint report is part of TIER ONE's Subscription
Research Program on Occupant Restraints.  The Research Program looks at the
world market for airbag applications.  It also reports on developing
technologies, smart systems, multiplexed controls, occupant sensing, and
seatbelt pre-tensioners, all of which are seeing increasing interest among
North American and Asian customers.
    TIER ONE's research and databases cover supplier market shares with
forecasts of airbag modules, inflators, initiators, crash and occupant
sensors, and electronic control units (ECUs).
    TIER ONE also supplies market research and consultation on other areas of
automotive electronics, including long-range vehicle production forecasts,
powertrain electronics, ABS/TCS/VDC systems, chassis electronics, body
electronics, automotive semiconductor applications, and sensor applications.
    TIER ONE recently announced a worldwide study of the projected
applications for in-vehicle multimedia and communications systems.