TRW's New Safety Domain Electronic Control Unit At The Heart Of Semi-Automated Driving

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hall 8, Stand F20, IAA Motor Show -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is announcing its second generation Safety Domain ECU (SDE 2) which can integrate data from multiple driver assist system, chassis and suspension functions in one unit. The second generation SDE will offer greater performance when compared to its previous generation and will be a key technology in supporting semi-automated driving and car2car communication.

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Dr. Hans-Gerd Krekels, portfolio and engineering director, TRW Global Integrated Electronics commented: "In previous years we have seen exponential growth in electronic systems in cars – a trend that is set to continue with the further penetration in active safety systems and increasingly automated driving functions. As the number of sensors increases in a vehicle, having a central safety 'domain' helps to deal with the increase in complexity and to simplify the electronic architecture."

TRW's SDE 2 has a flexible, open architecture structure to integrate software control algorithms from both suppliers and  third parties including vehicle manufacturers, using AUTOSAR 4.0 and beyond as a basis. As a scalable technology, it can integrate and process data from multiple functions including vehicle dynamics arbitration and driver assist data (radar, video camera and digital map information), to enable 360 degree environmental sensing. It has a high performance multi-core microprocessor that in addition to interfacing on CAN or FLEXRAY, can support Ethernet communication for high speed, high volume data transfer.

Krekels continued: "TRW's SDE 2 uses leading edge electronics technology to support next generation vehicle requirements. We are continuously looking at how we can integrate a wider range of features into this single unit and enable a higher degree of functionality and actuator control.

"In order to achieve the necessary high level of performance, we can integrate performance micros originally designed for automotive graphics applications as well as the Mobileye chip from our video camera sensors, directly embedded within the SDE."

TRW anticipates that its SDE 2 will be ready for production by 2017. The first generation technology started production this month with a major European vehicle manufacturer.

About TRW

With 2012 sales of $16.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 25 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.trwauto.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, 2012 (our "Form 10-K") and our Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 29 and June 28, 2013, such as: any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our financial condition, results, cash flows or reputation; the loss of any of our largest customers or the loss of a significant amount of their business materially adversely affecting us; economic conditions adversely affecting our business, results or the viability of our supply base; the unsuccessful implementation of our current expansion efforts adversely impacting our business or results; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption for any customers or us; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic and political uncertainty in some regions, adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; 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; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; 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 adverse effects on our business, reputation and results from governmental regulations; costs or liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations adversely affecting our results; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or those in our supply chain adversely affecting our business or results; any disruption in our information technology systems adversely impacting our business and operations; 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.      

SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.