KOBLENZ, Germany, March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has unveiled its integrated Electric Park Brake (EPBi) system, a further development of its first to market Electric Park Brake technology (EPB). EPBi removes the requirement for a separate Electronic Control Unit (ECU) due to its integration with the electronic stability control system.
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Dr. Dirk Kesselgruber, TRW's senior chief engineer for EPB systems, commented: "This new technology creates the opportunity for systems integration at a higher level. While EPB requires a separate control unit, EPBi integrates the necessary electronic components and software into an existing control unit in the vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for an extra control unit in the system network."
The EPBi system, as with TRW's production EPB system, helps to enhance driving safety and comfort and provides greater freedom in interior design and packaging. The system is a fully integrated part of the braking system, which makes four wheel anti-lock braking functionality possible during emergency braking. EPB and EPBi include additional functions such as 'Drive Away Assist', automatic hill hold and electronically controlled deceleration - features which are not available with conventional mechanical park brake systems.
Kesselgruber concluded: "The real benefits of EPBi compared to EPB are the reduction of system complexity, weight and installation effort, in addition to offering vehicle manufacturers a potential cost reduction resulting from the elimination of the ECU. It's a further example of how TRW is making advanced safety technologies more affordable for a wider range of vehicle segments."
TRW launched its EPB system in 2002 and now produces over 1.5 million units annually. TRW's EPBi system anticipates start of production in 2011.
About TRW
With 2008 sales of $15.0 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 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 http://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 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 can cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (our "Form 10-K"), such as: a prolonged contraction in automotive sales and production could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations and liquidity and on the viability of our supply base; the financial condition of OEMs, particularly the Detroit Three, could adversely affect us and the viability of our supply base; disruptions in the financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit could negatively affect our business; our substantial debt and resulting vulnerability to an economic or industry downturn and to rising interest rates; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability and the viability of our supply base; our dependence on our largest customers; any impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets; costs of product liability, warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to alter terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; our pension and other postretirement benefits expense and funding requirements could materially increase; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including economic uncertainty in some regions; assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights; the possibility that our largest shareholder's interests will conflict with ours; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revision to any of these forward-looking statements.
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