9th February 2006 - TRW Automotive Develops Advanced Braking Technologies for Hybrid Vehicles

TRW Automotive Holdings, through its subsidiaries, is developing advanced regenerative braking technologies that integrate the enhanced safety of electronic stability control systems for hybrid vehicle and similar architectures.

The Company is developing two systems -- Slip Control Boost (SCB) and Active Hydraulic Boost (AHB) -- which offer full braking functionality for Hybrid Electric Vehicles while incorporating high performance Electronic Stability Control and brake actuation within a 12-volt system architecture. The systems can cover a range of vehicles from small passenger cars to Sport Utility Vehicles.

Slip Control Boost offers a fully integrated TRW stability and brake actuation system that replaces traditional boosters, master cylinders and vacuum pumps with an electro-hydraulic control unit (EHCU), and brake pedal simulator unit with a twin master cylinder to supply brake pressure. This offers several advantages: (1) ease of installation with fewer components to fit; (2) improved packaging in the front dash area versus traditional vacuum boosters; (3) a decoupled brake pedal that is ideal for integration into autonomous or emergency braking systems; and (4) best-in-class NVH characteristics. The SCB system is targeted for production in the 2007 calendar year.

The Active Hydraulic Braking system is compatible with any electronic stability control system and only replaces the brake actuation system with the EHCU, pedal simulator and master cylinder solution. AHB offers the same advantages as the SCB system and provides a single slip control system trim across a full vehicle platform of conventional and hybrid vehicles. The AHB system is targeted for production in the 2009 calendar year.

Regenerative braking allows a vehicle to recapture and store part of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost to heat when braking. This energy is used to recharge the electric batteries and save on fuel in a hybrid architecture.

An electric motor can either use electricity to create torque, or reverse the process to use torque to create electricity. In the case of regenerative braking, the torque created by the electric propulsion motors is applied to one or both of the axles to slow or stop the vehicle. Because this regenerative force is not able to meet all the needs for braking over all speeds and conditions, conventional friction braking is also required and is blended with the motor torque to achieve full braking.

"TRW is developing these advanced systems with the dual goals of providing a regenerative braking system that assists in boosting the power performance and fuel economy of hybrid vehicles while providing a braking system with excellent safety capabilities," said Josef Pickenhahn, vice president, Brake Engineering for TRW Automotive. "We are already in discussions with several global vehicle manufacturers who are expressing interest in these systems."

About TRW

With 2004 sales of $12.0 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 60,000 people in 24 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.

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, 2004 (the "10-K") and our Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended April 1, July 1 and September 30, 2005, and include: possible technological difficulties in further development of the products mentioned in this press release; possible production cuts or restructuring by our customers; efforts by our customers to consolidate their supply base; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; severe inflationary pressures impacting commodity markets; non-performance by, or insolvency of, our suppliers and customers, which may be exacerbated by recent bankruptcies; our substantial leverage; interest rate risk arising from our variable rate indebtedness; product liability and warranty and recall claims; our dependence on our largest customers; loss of market share by domestic vehicle manufacturers; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; the possibility that our owners' interests will conflict with ours; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers 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 Press Release