---

Delphi Ready to Provide Leading Head Injury Protection Technology

12 August 1998

Delphi is Ready - Today - to Provide OEMs With Industry's Leading Head Injury Protection Technology

    TROY, Mich., Aug. 11 -- Delphi Automotive Systems is ready
today with a solution that will help vehicle manufacturers meet the U.S.
federal government's upper head injury protection requirements between now and
2002.
    Delphi recently entered into a teaming agreement with Simula Automotive
Safety Devices, Inc., a subsidiary of Simula, Inc. , which allows
Delphi's Advanced Safety Interior portfolio to include the Inflatable Tubular
Structure (ITS), manufactured by Simula.  Delphi is aggressively marketing
this technology to vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
    The ITS was introduced into production vehicles a year ago and remains the
only dynamically deploying head protection system on the road today.  This
technology will allow vehicle manufacturers to meet the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(FMVSS) 201 upper head injury requirements.  NHTSA expanded FMVSS 201 on
July 30 to include dynamically deploying interior head protection systems,
which would include ITS.
    While ITS is currently only being applied in the luxury market, it's
affordable enough to gain entry into the entry-level and mid-level markets,
according to Delphi General Manager Rodney O'Neal.  "With the increased
emphasis on safety, and with the recent NHTSA requirements, we believe we have
a product that could benefit many different product lines," O'Neal said.

    How ITS Technology Works
    The current design of ITS is a flexible tube with two anchor points at
each end.  During a side-impact collision, it becomes shorter in length and
larger in diameter, pulling out the roof rail trim to protect the occupant's
head and neck.  The deployed ITS develops significant tension between the
anchoring points, providing added retention and protection for the occupant.
The unit is non-aggressive during deployment, becoming a cushioning barrier
between the occupant and injury-producing objects.
    During a crash event, the current ITS is functional within approximately
15 milliseconds after the crash sensor sends a triggering signal to the gas
generator.  Due to the innovative non-venting design, the ITS also stays
inflated for a substantially longer duration than conventional airbags.  This
added duration provides occupant protection for a wide range of secondary
crash events or rollovers.
    OEMs must begin meeting the new FMVSS 201 requirements for upper interior
components beginning Sept. 1, when 10 percent of each manufacturer's vehicles
must comply.  That percentage increases each year until Sept. 1, 2002, when
all vehicles must comply.
    Delphi's Advanced Safety Interior, which is being promoted with ITS, is an
evolving portfolio of safety features being designed to enhance occupant
protection in frontal, side, rear and rollover collisions.  By using its
extensive knowledge in interior systems and electronics, Delphi will be able
to physically and functionally integrate components and subsystems for
optimized performance.
    Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is the
world's most diversified supplier of automotive components, systems and
modules.  With the addition of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, Delphi
operates 208 manufacturing facilities, 46 ventures and 27 technical centers in
37 countries.  Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao
Paulo.  Delphi can be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com.