TRW Expands Electronics Group

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is expanding its driver-assist electronics capabilities, especially those related to automated vehicles.

Tolga Oal, who heads the company's global electronics operations, predicts TRW's annual sales of electronic components will reach $1 billion by 2020.

Growth is being driven by the auto industry's increased focus on automated functions, according to Oal. He says developing such capabilities will mean greater integration of sensors, controllers and actuators. This year the company plans to double to 20 the number of engineers working exclusively on automated vehicles.

TRW makes electronically controlled safety systems such as automatic steering and braking systems that are intended to work just before or during driving emergencies. The company points out that adding sensors to enhance a vehicle's ability to detect its environment would enable the same systems to operate under normal driving conditions a key step in self-driving capabilities.

Oal notes that TRW has hired more than 650 engineers and technicians worldwide over the past three years. Most of them are working on advanced camera and radar systems at company technical centers in Europe and the U.S.