Automotive Experts to Assess Revolution in Occupant Protection

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Automotive Occupant Restraints Council (AORC), at its annual membership meeting in Tucson, will focus on issues and answers in highway safety worldwide, especially on the accelerating adoption of innovative safety technology in cars and trucks.

Members of the panel, to be featured on Thursday, March 15, will include Robert Lange, Executive Director of Vehicle Structure and Safety Integration for General Motors Corporation; Adrian Lund, President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Michael Stanton, President and CEO of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers; and Dr. Mark Rosenburg, Executive Director of the Task Force for Child Survival and Development at Emory University.

Also at the meeting, the AORC will present its highest honor, the Pathfinder Award, to Juichiro "Jim" Takada, President and Chief Executive Officer of Takata Corporation. Mr. Takada has been honored and recognized worldwide for his support of, and contributions to, automotive passenger safety. In 1980 he was recognized by the Japan Traffic Safety Association for his advocacy of seat belt use. In 2005 he received the Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Special Award of Appreciation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in recognition of his contributions to worldwide vehicle safety.

In presenting the award, Wendell C. Lane, Jr., Chairman of the AORC Board of Directors and Senior Vice President for Global Technology for Key Safety Systems, Inc., said, "We are very pleased to present the Pathfinder award to Jim Takada for his tremendous efforts in furthering vehicle occupant safety. His professional history is as long as that of the AORC itself and his accomplishments in the industry are legendary."

Keynote speaker for the meeting is Shane Karr, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Governmental Affairs. Prior to this position he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Transportation which he first joined in July of 2001 as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs. He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Secretary in February 2003. Mr. Karr has a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and a law degree from Georgetown University.

"Again at this year's annual meeting AORC members will focus on the worldwide revolution that is taking place in occupant protection including both active and passive systems," said George F. Kirchoff, AORC president. "Technology continues to move from crash mitigation to crash avoidance and emergency intervention systems."

Mr. Kirchoff told members that the AORC will conduct a technology fair in Washington, D.C., later this year to further educate important audiences on key technology developments that are occurring in the automotive safety industry and how these developments should be considered in any future legislation or regulatory initiatives.

The AORC, founded in 1961, is a non-profit, international organization that helps establish uniform production and quality standards for vehicle safety system components. Members include manufacturers and suppliers of airbags, airbag components, seat belts, automotive seating, and interior safety components. More information on the AORC may be found at www.aorc.org.