TRW Automotive Collaborates with Chinese Motor Vehicle Inspection Agency to Develop Passive Safety Testing Capabilities

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TRW) has signed an agreement with the National Center of Supervision and Inspection of Motor Vehicle Products Quality (Shanghai) to co-invest in dynamic test capabilities supporting the occupant safety system (OSS) development of domestic Chinese customers. Capabilities will include head impact and body block tests to correspond with legal regulations and a programmable Hydro-Brake system for crash simulation sled testing.

Formerly known as the Shanghai Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, the Chinese agency was upgraded to a national third-party testing facility three years ago in response to the growing needs for independent vehicle testing and assessment in the country. The expanded facility resides in the town of Anting, offering ten labs for comprehensive full-vehicle and parts testing, inspection and assessment.



Zhongrong Huang, vice director of the agency, commented, "Our ambition is to build a world-class crash test facility in China. We are very pleased to collaborate with TRW, a global technology leader, in developing our testing capabilities on automotive safety components."

The launch of two Chinese new car assessment programs last year has sparked national interest in the passive safety features of motor vehicles. Crash test results were widely reported and assessment standards received increased scrutiny.

"As an industry leader in automotive safety, TRW has firmly planted itself in China with three occupant safety plants and a world-class engineering facility, poised to assist our Chinese customers in meeting the ever- increasing consumer expectations of vehicle safety," said Joachim Poole, OSS chief engineer, TRW Asia Pacific.

TRW supplies the full-range of its OSS products to the Chinese market including airbags, seat belts, steering wheels and safety electronics. The Shanghai-based TRW Asia-Pacific technology center provides comprehensive engineering support to its Chinese manufacturing facilities and its customers. Based on technological expertise and state-of-the-art equipment, the operation is engaged in specific design and simulation development, expert application engineering, and final product testing and validation according to local customer and market needs.

Poole pointed out that the agreement with the National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Motor Vehicle Products Quality (Shanghai) marked the first such collaborative effort between a Chinese national vehicle inspection agency and a multinational automotive supplier in Shanghai. He added, "Through this partnership, we have established another platform to work with Chinese vehicle manufacturers toward a common goal of helping to make safer cars for China and the world."

About TRW

With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 63,800 people in 28 countries. 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. TRW has established 12 entities in China including 10 plants manufacturing the complete line of its core products. 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 http://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 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made in this release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the "10-K"), and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2007, and include: the ability of TRW's subsidiaries to succeed in China; production cuts or restructuring by our major customers; work stoppages or other labor issues at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; non-performance by, or insolvency of, our suppliers and customers, which may be exacerbated by recent bankruptcies and other pressures within the automotive industry; the inability of our suppliers to deliver products at the scheduled rate and disruptions arising in connection therewith; interest rate risk arising from our variable rate indebtedness (which constitutes a majority of the company's indebtedness), especially in view of the current climate of rising interest rates; loss of market share by domestic vehicle manufacturers; efforts by our customers to consolidate their supply base; severe inflationary pressures impacting the market for commodities; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; our dependence on our largest customers; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; our substantial leverage; product liability and warranty and recall claims; limitations on flexibility in operating our business contained in our debt agreements; the possibility that our owners' interests will conflict with ours and other risks and uncertainties set forth under "Risk Factors" in the 10-K and in our other SEC filings. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.


Source: TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.