Autoliv Garners Top Award for Setting the 'PACE' in Technology.

Business Editors, Automotive Writers

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--(AutomotiveWire)--March 7, 2000

Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV) received top honors last night at the 2000 PACE Awards ceremony for its innovative side impact airbag inflator codenamed the ASH-2.

The Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive suppliers; Contributions to Excellence) Awards program recognizes automotive suppliers who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of automotive products and services creating increased value for automotive manufacturers and customers.

"This award acknowledges the substantial effort our entire development team put into this product," said Dr. Karl Rink, Manager of Compressed Gas Research. "It is a reflection of the innovative style present in our entire organization and we are very proud to be recognized for setting a new direction in airbag inflation systems."

Autoliv's ASH-2 inflator eliminates the need for combustion by instead making use of the chemical process known as dissociation. Dissociation simply refers to the process by which a molecule is split or fragmented into a simpler collection of molecules, atoms, or ions. The energy released during this dissociation process is sufficient to heat and expand the stored gas necessary for airbag inflation.

The advantages of this dissociation process encompass all aspects of airbag inflator production and use including design, performance, handling, safety and cost. Not only does this process eliminate the need for separate fuel and oxidant charges, but it allows Autoliv to reduce total components by almost 50% and welds by more than 60%.

But perhaps the most important advantage of the ASH-2 inflator is related to its performance. Not only is the temperature of the gas relatively low, but due to the density of the gas produced, airbags can remain inflated for extended periods of time. This advantage is ideally suited to inflatable curtain technologies now being widely introduced in many of today's vehicles which are designed to protect the occupant in the event of a side impact or rollover crash requiring airbags to stay inflated longer than for more common frontal airbag systems.

An independent panel of distinguished judges -- including industry, academic and civic leaders -- evaluated the award applicants on the basis of ingenuity in product, design, engineering, manufacturing and process. After judges reviewed the initial applications, they selected 24 finalists -- including Autoliv for its ASH-2 inflator design. A group of judges then made on-site visits to conduct more rigorous evaluations of the 24 finalists before selecting the PACE winners.

The PACE Awards were announced at a ceremony held on March 6, 2000, at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, which coincided with the opening of the 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers' International Congress and Exposition.

Autoliv, Inc. develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. The company has 60 wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures with close to 23,000 employees in 29 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 1999 totaled close to US $3.8 billion and net income to US $200 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).