Automotive Industry Forms Bus Standard Consortium

TOKYO /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Denso Corp., Freescale Semiconductor, and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. have established an industry consortium on September 8 to drive further development and deployment of the Distributed Systems Interface (DSI) standard.

The consortium will actively seek broader industry participation to enhance the capability of bus systems while also expanding the range of applications beyond automotive and into industrial control and networking. Consortium members will be free to use the DSI standard and will be able to influence the development of future generations of the DSI standard.

With the establishment of this consortium, the members expect acceleration in the development of advanced, competitive DSI standards that have higher performances and lower costs, as well as help expand the DSI standard in the market.

With this announcement, the DSI Consortium unveils DSI 2.5, the next-generation standard. The consortium will also work to develop the DSI 3.0, which will aim to increase bus performance, such as electromagnetic compatibility signature and transmission speed.

The DSI protocol has been adopted by the world's leading supplemental restraint system airbag manufacturers. Currently, more than a dozen automotive OEMs have included DSI-based systems in their vehicles. DSI-compliant products have been in production for many years. Demand for airbag-related systems is driven by legislation, consumer influences, and automotive growth in emerging markets.

As automotive airbag systems continue to become more sophisticated and require more collision detection sensors, car manufacturers face pressures to reduce cost while enhancing safety. The consortium will enable implementers of the DSI safety bus to participate in the evolution of the standard and to continue providing robust, high-speed communications for the growing number of collision sensors planned to be used in new vehicles.

About Denso
Denso Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a leading global supplier of advanced technology, systems, and components. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company employs approximately 120,000 people in 32 countries and regions, including Japan. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, totaled $32.0 billion. For more information, visit the company's media Web site.

About Freescale
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, and networking markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, TX, and has design, research and development, manufacturing, or sales operations around the world.

About TRW
With 2008 sales of $15.0 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, MI, U.S., TRW, through its subsidiaries, operates in 26 countries and employs approximately 60,000 people worldwide. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems, and aftermarket replacement parts and services. All references to "TRW Automotive" or "TRW" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.