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Magna, TRW Open ACTS For Modular, Functional and Safety Systems

1 July 1999

Magna, TRW Open Advanced Car Technology Systems (ACTS) For Modular, Functional and Safety Systems

    SAILAUF, Germany, June 30 -- Magna International Inc. and TRW
Inc. today officially opened the most advanced independent automotive
development and testing center in the world for modular, functional and safety
systems.
    ACTS, which stands for Advanced Car Technology Systems, is a joint venture
between Magna and TRW.  The U.S. $33 million/DM 60 million facility opens up
new opportunities for global automobile manufacturers to develop and integrate
all-inclusive vehicle systems using the most modern equipment and the far-
reaching experience offered to them by the team at ACTS.  The 19,000-square-
meter/204,000-square-foot facility is southeast of Frankfurt.  At present,
ACTS employs about 80 people, primarily engineers and technicians, and is
working for every major European automaker.  By the end of 2000 a total number
of 150 employees is planned.
    Calling ACTS "the finest independent development and testing center in the
world," TRW Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph T. Gorman said, "This
new ACTS facility transforms the shared vision of TRW and Magna into reality,
providing total vehicle and safety systems solutions to the benefit of the
global automotive industry, our customers and consumers."
    Magna International Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Don Walker
said the new facility is representative of the expanded technology,
engineering and integration role that leading suppliers such as Magna and TRW
perform in working with their customers and suppliers.
    "ACTS will provide significant benefits to the global automotive industry
by providing complete interior and safety systems solutions," Walker said.
"Our two companies will provide a high-quality, total-vehicle perspective for
design and development with a strong systems emphasis."
    Gorman added that automotive customers will benefit from the global
engineering and manufacturing strengths that both companies possess in
offering total system integration.
    ACTS general manager Dieter Fahrlander said the facility was constructed
with the customer in mind, with 10 specially equipped confidential customer
areas, each with its own access to testing areas.
    Fahrlander said ACTS gives customers the opportunity to do all their
testing in one location, using the facility's skilled engineers, sophisticated
test equipment and private customer offices.  "We want our customers to think
of ACTS first for solutions to their interior and safety systems issues,"
Fahrlander said.
    The center will offer a variety of testing services, including
acceleration sled, barrier, car-to-car, rollover crash tests and environmental
tests.  It will provide project management, computer-aided design, total
system math-modeling simulation and the testing for the development of modular
and functional systems.
    Magna will focus on interior, exterior body and chassis, seats and mirror
systems.  TRW will lead development efforts in occupant restraint systems,
including air bags, seat belts, sensors, electronics and steering wheels.
    ACTS testing facilities include: an angular crash test facility (for
frontal, side and rear impact tests, angular crash tests from 0-90 degrees and
rollover tests); an acceleration sled test system; climatic chamber; door,
hood and seat testing; static air bag deployment testing; sun simulation; free
motion headform impact testing; seat belt anchorage test; torso launcher; seat
back and head restraint test system; side door intrusion and roof crush test
system; linear actuators; a bumper pendulum; dummy technique; 3-D coordinate
measurement systems; head impact test system, static rollover test system and
high-speed video techniques.
    Magna (TSE: MG.A, MG.B; ME: MG.A; NYSE: MGA) is a Canada-based automotive
supplier with CAN $9.2 billion/U.S. $6.3 billion in sales.  Magna has more
than 54,000 employees in 164 manufacturing operations and 29 product
development and engineering centers in 18 countries.
    One of the world's most diversified automotive suppliers, Magna designs,
develops, and manufactures automotive systems, assemblies and components, and
engineers and assembles complete vehicles, primarily for sale to original
equipment manufacturers of cars and light trucks in North America, Europe,
South America and the Asia Pacific.
    Magna products include exterior decorative systems; interior products,
including complete seats, instrument and door panel systems and sound
insulation; stamped and welded metal parts and assemblies; sunroofs;
electromechanical devices and assemblies; navigation systems; a variety of
plastic parts, including body panels and fascias through Decoma International
Inc.; various engine, powertrain and fueling and cooling components through
Tesma International, Inc.; and a variety of drivetrain components and complete
vehicle engineering and assembly through the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Group.
    TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services
for the global automotive, aerospace and information systems markets.  The
company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the world's largest
independent automotive component suppliers with nearly $13 billion in
worldwide automotive sales.  The company has almost 130,000 employees in 30
countries and 268 facilities around the world, including the 1999 acquisition
of LucasVarity.
    Its TRW Automotive unit produces occupant restraint systems, fastening
systems, switch and control systems, electronic security and convenience
systems, steering and suspension systems and engine components.  Its
LucasVarity Automotive unit produces braking, electrical and electronic
systems and aftermarket replacement parts for the global automotive industry.
    Additional TRW, Magna and ACTS information is available on the Internet at
http://www.trw.com for TRW, http://www.magnaint.com for Magna and http://www.acts.de for ACTS.