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TRW Automotive to Manufacture Electric Steering in China for Asian Market

SHANGHAI, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) today announced it will start production of Electric Power Steering (EPS) from its facilities in Anting, China in support of the Company's expanding Asia Pacific customer base.  The Company will add significant

TRW Automotive to Manufacture Electric Steering in China for Asian Market

SHANGHAI, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) today announced it will start production of Electric Power Steering (EPS) from its facilities in Anting, China in support of the Company's expanding Asia Pacific customer base.  The Company will add significant production equipment and manufacturing floor space in support of Ford Motor Company and Mazda, initially.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100803/DE44918 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100803/DE44918 )

"Electric Steering is a rapidly growing technology globally due to the many advantages it can provide," said Peter Lake, executive vice president, sales and business development for TRW. "Creating a regional production base for our Asian customers will provide a cost effective source for these fuel-saving and emission reducing technologies as we expand the footprint of EPS for the production of global platforms and for domestic customers."

Over the next 18 months TRW will install lines to produce the mechanical gear, column power head assembly and electronic control unit to fully localize Column Drive EPS manufacture for the region. Line capacity is expected to be in the range of 450,000 units annually with employment of an additional 170 people including engineering and other support personnel.

Nancy Gougarty, vice president, operations, Asia Pacific, TRW Automotive, said: "The expansion of Electric Steering into Asia continues our efforts to bring all of TRW's highly sophisticated product offerings to China and the wider Asia Pacific region. As part of locating EPS here, we will build an efficient and well-developed supply base to deliver cost improvements – essential to competitiveness and customer service. And electric steering has been recognized for its ability to help contribute to the environmental improvement efforts here."

TRW Automotive Components (Shanghai) Co., LTD. (TACS) was established in 2002 and manufactures airbag electronic control units, crash sensors, steering gear assemblies and Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). TACS personnel will work closely with engineering counterparts at TRW's Technical Center in Shanghai to support the launch of local Column Drive EPS production.

About TRW

With 2009 sales of $11.6 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 over 60,000 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 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, 2009 (our "Form 10-K") and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 2, 2010, such as: the financial condition of our customers adversely affecting us or the viability of our supply base; disruptions in the financial markets adversely impacting the availability and cost of credit negatively affecting our business; any shortage of supplies adversely affecting us; any further material contraction in automotive sales and production adversely affecting our results, liquidity or the viability of our supply base; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; our dependence on our largest customers; 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 liabilities relating to environmental, health and safety regulations; limitations on available cash and access to additional capital due to our substantial debt; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans; risks associated with non-U.S. operations, including foreign exchange risks and economic and political uncertainty in some regions; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights; the possibility that our largest stockholder's interests will conflict with our or our other stockholders' interests; 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 update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.

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