TRW's Latest Generation Column Drive Electrically Powered Steering Launches In Europe And China

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Oct 27, 2014, 11:30 ET

LIVONIA, Mich., Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), has announced that its third generation electrically powered steering column drive (EPS CD) technology has recently launched on two major vehicle platforms which include – for Europe – the VW Polo, Up and e-Up, Audi S1, Skoda Rapide, Space Back, Fabia and Citigo as well as the FIAT 500L – and for China – the GAC FIAT Viaggio. Annual volumes will be over one million for these platforms.

TRW's Gen 3 Electrically Powered Steering Column Drive system recently launched on a wide range of vehicles in Europe and Asia - the launches will total over 1 million units during these production contracts. Electric Power steering helps contribute to increased fuel efficiency and enables a range of advanced functions such as wind drift compensation and park assist technologies.

TRW's EPS CD Gen 3 is based on a modular and scalable architecture which allows for greater freedom of packaging and design for a broad range of applications and helps to lower life cycle costs.

Dirk Kesselgruber, vice president, Steering Engineering at TRW commented: "Our Gen 3 EPS is tailored to our customers' strategies to increasingly apply modular technology across global platforms. The beauty of these products is the building block nature of substituting motors, ECUs and other major items to fit the application without having to do a massive design tear up. The value to our customers comes in the form of shorter times to market, and greater component reuse. The modular approach also helps us to tailor our offering for multiple regional requirements and meet the needs of different customers around the world."

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 the belt drive where the assist is applied to the rack through a belt and ball nut mechanism.

"With the launch of our latest column drive EPS, TRW is bringing clear cost and environmental benefits to automakers," said Kesselgruber. "The technology can deliver a fuel savings of 0.3 to 0.4 L/100km, with a corresponding reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 7-8g/km compared to conventional hydraulic systems."

TRW first started production of its EPS technology in 2001 and has since produced more than 26 million units for customers worldwide.

About TRW

With 2013 sales of $17.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 24 countries and employs approximately 65,000 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 could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (our "Form 10-K") and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 28, 2014 and June 27, 2014, such as: economic conditions adversely affecting our business, results or the viability of our supply base; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic and political uncertainty in some regions, adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; the unsuccessful implementation of our current expansion efforts adversely impacting our business or results; any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our financial condition, results, cash flows or reputation; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; global competition adversely affecting our sales, profitability or financial condition; any disruption in our information technology systems adversely impacting our business and operations; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption for any customers or us; the loss of any of our largest customers or a significant amount of their business, or a significant decline in their production levels, adversely affecting us; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; our contingent liabilities and tax matters causing us to incur losses or costs; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; costs or adverse effects on our business, reputation or results from governmental regulations; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or those of our customers or others in our supply chain adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.