Strong Growth for Automatic Battery Disconnects in new Vehicles
(Stockholm, September 15, 2011) – – – At the Frankfurt Auto Show, Autoliv Inc. (NYSE: ALV, and SSE: ALIV sdb) – the global leader in automotive safety systems – announced that it is seeing high interest for its Pyrotechnic Safety Switch (PSS) from numerous OEMs for their electric vehicle models as well as for gasoline-powered cars and trucks.
The PSS is an automatic safety switch which utilizes a pyrotechnic initiator to cut the electrical power to a designated portion of the vehicle in a crash. The safety switch is activated by the same crash sensors as the airbags. Cutting the vehicle’s electrical power minimizes the potential for a fire caused by a damaged electrical system exposed to flammable liquids or gases.
“Our customers see the Pyrotechnic Safety Switch as a necessary technology for their electric vehicles to automatically and safely cut off the immense stored electrical power to the powertrain and other systems that could be damaged in an accident”, stated Jan Carlson, Autoliv’s President and CEO.
“For traditional light vehicles and commercial trucks, our customers are utilizing the PSS as an effective, low cost way to minimize the potential for a vehicle fire caused by an accident, thereby preventing people from being injured by the flames - especially if the car occupants are unconscious. This is another example which demonstrates how our products continue to enhance a vehicle’s overall safety for the general public” added Carlson.
This year Autoliv expects to produce 1.6 million units of the PSS, mainly on luxury models. Production volumes are expected to more than double over the next three years as more vehicle manufacturers integrate this new safety technology into mid-scale higher volume platforms.
For more information on Autoliv’s Pyrotechnic Safety Switch go to http://www.pyroswitch.com
Inquiries:
Christian Cavell, Director - Special Products (Europe) Tel: +49 151 5805 8022 or
Doug Werth, Director – Special Products (U.S./Asia) Tel: +1 248 475 0419
About Autoliv
Autoliv Inc., with its joint ventures, has 80 facilities with 46,000 employees in 29 countries. In addition, the Company has ten technical centers in nine countries around the world, with 21 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales in 2010 grew to by 40% to nearly US $7.2 billion. The Company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ALV) and its Swedish Depository Receipts on the OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm (ALIV sdb). For more information about Autoliv, please visit our company website at www.autoliv.com (http://www.autoliv.com/).
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