(Stockholm, October 26, 2009) - - - - Autoliv Inc. (NYSE:ALV and SSE: ALIV) - the global leader in automotive safety systems - have opened a new unique test facility for pre-crash and active safety systems in Vårgårda, Sweden.
Thanks to passive safety systems such as seatbelt pretensioners and airbags, vehicle safety has substantially improved over recent decades. The next step to further reduce road traffic accidents can be active safety and driver assistance systems based on various sensors.
Autoliv's new test track is built as a small city with real streets and fake house facades to conduct tests in a safe but realistic environment. In the "city", Autoliv can perform and evaluate different systems based on radar, laser, vision or other sensors, which will be part of the pre-crash systems of tomorrow's cars. These sensors provide input to the active safety system to brake or steer-away to mitigate or avoid an accident. The test facility is equipped with controllable balloon cars and pedestrian simulators to create a realistic driving situation.
For more information visit our website www.testcenter.autoliv.com
For more information: Henrik Kaar, Director Corporate Communications, Autoliv Inc. + 46 8-587 20 614
About Autoliv
Autoliv Inc., the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv has 80 facilities with approximately 38,000 employees in 28 vehicle-producing countries. In addition, the Company has technical centers in eleven countries around the world, with 21 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales in 2008 amounted to US $6.5 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).