Autolivs CEO Sees Strong Growth Prospects

Autoliv's CEO Sees Strong Growth Prospects -- We expect to sell 50% more airbags already within two years than in 1998. Although most of this growth will come from side-impact airbags, which command a lower price than frontal airbags, we are confident that our company will continue to show a faster growth trend than the total world market for automotive safety products, and we will thereby continue to take market shares. Mr. Lars Westerberg, President and Chief Executive Officer for Autoliv Inc. (NYSE: ALV and SSE: ALIV) - the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, made these comments to an international audience of financial analysts and investors at the Company's capital market conference in New York. - Last year, we sold more than 20 million frontal airbags and close to 8 million side-impact airbags or 28 million in total. But in our order books, which reach out through the calendar year 2001, we currently show more than 40 million bags for that year and more than 20 million of them are side-impact airbags. - We see a moderation in the pricing pressure, but the trend towards lower average selling prices for airbags will continue as a result of the product mix shift towards side-impact airbags which are smaller and therefore less expensive than frontal airbags, Mr. Westerberg explained. - We continue to increase our supply value per vehicle by developing new safety systems, such as anti-whiplash, roll-over protection and collision warning systems, and by upgrading existing products by introducing, for instance, smart airbags. These systems will reduce fatalities and human suffering, and be the drivers for Autoliv's continued long-term growth, declared Mr. Westerberg. Autoliv Inc. develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. The company has more than 60 wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures with 22,000 employees in 28 vehicle-producing countries. In addition, the company has eight technical centers around the world, including 19 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales in 1998 amounted to close to US $3.5 billion and net income US $188 million. The company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ALV), its Swedish Depositary Receipts on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (SSE: ALIV) and its stock options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE: ALV.) Inquiries: Lars Westerberg, President & CEO, Autoliv Inc., Tel +46(8)58 72 06 20 Mats Ödman, Dir. Corp. Comm., Tel. +46(8)58 72 06 23, or mob. +1(248) 760-1329 Barry Murphy, Director Investor Relations, Tel. +1 (248) 475-0409 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/09/29/19990929BIT00610/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/09/29/19990929BIT00610/bit0002.pdf