AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Takata, a leading global supplier of automotive safety systems, has been named a finalist for the 2008 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award, for their pioneering advances in motorcycle airbags. The motorcycle airbag was developed by Takata in a partnership with Honda Motor Company, and is currently available to consumers on the 2008 Honda Gold Wing.

Takata's motorcycle airbag design is the first on the market for motorcycle applications, and Honda is the only manufacturer to currently offer the technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates approximately 5,000 people are killed annually from motorcycle accidents, and the motorcycle airbag was developed specifically to address this situation by improving motorcycle crashworthiness.

"As a company dedicated to the development of automotive life-saving technology advancements, we are elated to be recognized for our motorcycle airbag design," said Alby Berman, vice president of communications, Takata. "Our long-standing partnership with Honda Motor Company has enabled this ground-breaking technology to prove its life-saving application."

Recognizing superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance, the Automotive News PACE Award is open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, information technology, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The award is accepted around the world as the industry symbol of innovation. Takata, along with other Automotive News PACE Award finalists, will undergo an extensive review process - including a site visit - by industry, academic and business leaders to select award winners, to be announced at a gala ceremony in Detroit on April 14, 2008.

The PACE Award, presented by Automotive News with Microsoft, SAP and the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.), is recognized throughout the industry as the "Academy Award for Automotive Innovation" and honors innovations, technological advancements and business performance among automotive suppliers. This award sets industry standards and recognizes suppliers who exceed expectations of their OEM customers and automotive consumers. Winners of the 14th annual PACE Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges and will be announced April 14, 2008. For complete details of the 2008 Automotive News PACE Award, visit www.autonews.com/PACE.

Takata, the world's leading supplier of automotive safety belts, has a long history of safety innovation and provides a host of safety technologies with the goal of protecting human life. The company's product portfolio includes seat belts, front- and side-impact protection, electronics and textiles. The company, with its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, is involved in many consumer and government safety efforts, including being a corporate sponsor and active board member of the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan.