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Allianz

alv · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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FY2018 Annual Report · Allianz
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Saving More Lives

Autoliv Annual Report 2018

 Autoliv Annual Report

Content

03																																																																	  Global Presence

04																																																														  2018 in Summary

05											  The World's Largest Automotive Safety Supplier

06																																																														 President’s Letter

10																																																																					  Our Products

12  																																																																 Major Launches

16  																																			 Financial & Sustainability Targets

18																																																						 Market and Operations 

24																																																																														 Strategy

32																																																																									  Employees

36																																																																					 Shareholders 

38																																																													 Board of Directors

39																																										  Executive Management Team

AMERICAS

31%

OF '18 SALES

2018 in  
Summary

10.5% 

adjusted* operating margin

7% 

sales growth

40% 

market share

$214 m 

in direct shareholder return

$591 m 

in operating cash flow**

* Excluding costs for capacity alignments, antitrust related matters and  
separation of our business segments	  
** Consolidated

EUROPE

32%

OF '18 SALES

JAPAN

9%

OF '18 SALES

CHINA

18%

OF '18 SALES

REST OF ASIA

10%

OF '18 SALES

Sales 2018

Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi

Hyundai / KIA

Honda

Toyota

General 
Motors

PSA
PEUGEOT 
CITROEN

Great 
Wall

JLR
Jaguar LandRover 

* Excluding costs for capacity alignments, antitrust related matters and  

15%

10%

8%

8%

8%

8%

7%

6%

4%

4% 3%

3% 2%
2%

2%

10%

separation of our business segments	  

** Consolidated

Volkswagen

Ford

FCA
FIAT CHRYSLER 

Daimler

BMW Volvo

Mazda 

Others

The World’s  
Largest Automotive 
Safety Supplier
A utoliv  is  the  worldwide  leader  in  automotive 

safety, with sales to all major car manufacturers	 
Our close to 67,000 employees in 27 countries are 
passionate about our vision of Saving More Lives	 
We develop products that save over 30,000 lives each year 
and  prevent  ten  times  as  many  severe  injuries	  Autoliv’s 
mission is to be the leading supplier of safety systems for 
the  future  car,  well  integrated  with  autonomous  driving	 
We develop, manufacture and market protective systems, 

such as airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels and pedestrian 
protection systems for the vehicles of today and tomorrow	  
We continuously challenge ourselves to bring excel-
lence  into  everything  we  do,  providing  safety  for  road 
users, consistency and quality for our customers, confi-
dence and security for our employees, and stability and 
growth for our shareholders as well as being sustainable 
and earning trust within our communities	

Employees ~67,000 worldwide

Lives Saved >30.000 per year

Operations in 27 countries

Car Brands >100 worldwide

Tech Center Locations 14 worldwide

Headquarters Stockholm, Sweden

Crash Test Tracks 19 worldwide

Incorporated Delaware, United States

Dear  
Shareholder

A s we reflect on the past year, we 

look  back  at  a  year  of  change 
for  Autoliv  and  the  automo-
tive  industry.  We  spun  off  our 
Electronics  business,  allowing 
for  a  more  focused  strategy,  optimized  for 
our  industry  and  market  opportunities.  We  
delivered on past years' strong order intake, 
resulting  in  a  record-high  level  of  launch  
activity in North America.

Autoliv  continued  to  outpace  the  mar-
ket  in  2018,  and  our  market  share  reached 
around 40%. We grew organically by close to 
5%  while  light  vehicle  production  declined 
by  about  1%,  according  to  IHS,  an  outper-
formance  of  close  to  6  percentage  points. 
We  had  a  solid  operating  cash  flow,  and  I 
am pleased that our order intake remained 
high,  supporting  our  growth  opportunities 
for the long term.

FOCUS ON PROFITABLE GROWTH 
The  spin-off  of  the  Electronics  business 
marked  a  new  beginning  for  Autoliv.  As  a 
more focused business, we have been able 
to concentrate on what matters most when 
it comes to securing profitable growth. 

Having  strengthened  our  market  posi-
tion in recent years, our efforts are now fo-
cused on managing our strong order intake,  

with  flawless  launches  and  smooth  ramp-
ups, operational excellence and executing on 
our innovation pipeline.

 In 2018, we were successful in executing 
launches, delivering on schedule with good 
precision. However, with a sharp increase in 
launch activity, by 20% in total and by 50% in 
North America, this came at the expense of 
higher  launch-related  costs.  In  the  second 
half  of  2018,  we  also  experienced  signifi-
cant  changes  in  light  vehicle  production  in  
Europe  and  China,  resulting  in  un-even  
utilization  of  our  production  assets  and 
supply chain.

FINANCIAL TARGETS 
Our  sales  and  earnings  capacity  is  sup-
ported  by  the  continued  high  order  intake, 
and  our  target  of  reaching  more  than  $10 
billion in sales and around 13% in adjusted 
operating  margin  remain.  However,  due  to 
the  slowdown  in  global  light  vehicle  sales 
and  production,  and  increased  raw  mate-
rial  pricing,  we  now  expect  to  reach  these 
targets  beyond  2020.  We  target  to  reach  a 
leverage  ratio  of  about  1.0x  over  time.  Our 
long-term  ambition  is  to  achieve  growth 
in  line  with  light  vehicle  production  plus  at 
least 1%.

06

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / President’s Letter

LEVERAGING OUR TECHNOLOGICAL  
EXPERTISE 
A key success factor for Autoliv is our strong 
customer  focus,  from  innovation  to  manu-
facturing  and  delivery  of  our  products. 
Through research conducted in cooperation 
with customers and leading universities, we 
are  leveraging  our  combined  technological 
expertise to improve safety for road users. 

One recent example is our research col-
laboration  with  a  customer  to  provide  air-
bags for scooter riders. The number of two-
wheelers  has  surged,  and  they  are  involved 
in  a  high  percentage  of  fatal  and  serious 
accidents. Governments are increasingly be-
coming aware of the need to protect this vul-
nerable group of road users, and we foresee 
that demand for safety systems for these ve-
hicles will grow. Together with our custom-
ers, we can make a positive difference. 

Another  research  collaboration  is  the 
new research project Future Occupant Safety 
for  Crashes  in  Cars  (OSCCAR),  in  which  we 
are  partnering  with  car  manufacturers,  re-
search  organizations  and  other  automotive 
suppliers to ensure a harmonized approach 
to  designing  future  safety  systems  for  cars 
with self-driving capabilities. In this project, 
we expect to better anticipate future accident 
scenarios in order to provide optimal safety 
systems  for  the  highly  automated  vehicles 
and safety systems of the future, adapted for 
people of different sizes and ages.

SAFETY CONCEPTS FOR THE  
FUTURE VEHICLE 
The  development  of  vehicles  with  increas-
ing  levels  of  electrification  and  autonomy  is 
placing  new  demands  on  automotive  safety 
systems. With our strong platform of existing 
products as well as our technological exper-
tise  and  close  cooperation  with  customers, 
we are well positioned to meet these require-
ments. Our research in steering wheel tech-
nology has resulted in improved ease of con-
trol and additional driver monitoring systems, 
including  solutions  for  autonomous  driving. 
We are developing seatbelt systems, integrat-
ing mechatronics in order to reduce reaction 
time, including proactive safety features and 
improving comfort and customization.

As  we  improve  the  effectiveness  of  ex-
isting  airbags,  we  discover  advances  in  en-
gineering that allow designs for the interior 
and seating positions of autonomous cars to 
be adapted in order to protect people trave-
ling  in  the  vehicles  of  today  and  tomorrow. 
We  will  also  continue  to  lead  the  develop-

ment  of  safety  systems  for  vulnerable  road 
users,  such  as  pedestrians,  cyclists  and 
powered two-wheelers.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 
Sustainability is at the core of what we do, and 
we  have  a  global  strategy  to  align  our  sus-
tainability  priorities,  ambitions  and  targets, 
taking  into  account  stakeholder  and  busi-
ness priorities. In 2018 we defined targets for 
our  key  priorities.  These  include  a  restated 
target  for  saving  more  lives,  intended  to  re-
flect  the  impact  of  the  Electronics  business, 
revised  targets  for  health  and  safety,  new 
targets  for  the  environment  and  formal-
ized  targets  for  supply  chain  sustainability.  
The  existing  business  ethics  targets  remain 
unchanged.

QUALITY, INNOVATION AND  
COLLABORATION 
The  automotive  industry  is  experiencing 
short and long-term changes that are creat-
ing challenges and opportunities for our in-
dustry. Ultimately it boils down to one ques-
tion: How can we best protect road users in a 
sustainable way? I believe that quality, inno-
vation and collaboration have brought Auto-
liv to where it is today. Due to our relentless 
focus on quality, only around 2% of vehicles 
recalled in our industry since 2010 have been 
related  to  Autoliv.  And  thanks  to  our  focus 
on  innovation  and  research  collaborations, 
we have brought many industry firsts to the 
market for over 65 years. 

At  Autoliv,  our  motto  is,  “It  Starts  with 
Me”  This  reflects  the  ownership  we  all  as-
sume for our way of working and our aware-
ness  of  the  fact  that  we  are  all  important 
when it comes to bringing safety to road us-
ers.  I  thank  our  employees  for  contributing 
to  our  important  vision  every  day.  Together, 
we share a culture that I truly believe provides 
a  strong  and  robust  platform  to  further  de-
velop our company, thereby saving more lives 
and creating more value for our stakeholders.

With our commitment to safe road journeys,

Mikael Bratt,  
President & CEO  
Stockholm February 21, 2019

07

08

AUTOLIV PEDESTRIAN  
AIRBAGS & HOOD LIFTERS

Deploys Within 60 Milliseconds

When pedestrians are involved in traffic accidents, severe or fatal  
injuries are often the result	 Active hood lifters and outside pedestrian 
protection airbags aim to reduce the severity of pedestrian  
head injuries	 

09

At the Forefront of Technology  
to Save More Lives

Based on our extensive research into real-life accidents, we develop  
and engineer automotive safety solutions to save more lives and prevent 
injuries on our roads	 The way we innovate solutions is a key differentiator 
that sets us apart from our competitors	

PEDESTRIAN AIRBAGS  
AND HOOD LIFTERS 
Protect Pedestrians
When pedestrians are involved in  
traffic accidents, severe or fatal injuries  
are often the result	 Active hood lifters  
and outside pedestrian protection  
airbags aim to reduce the severity of  
pedestrian head injuries in case of a  
pedestrian-vehicle accident	 

FRONTAL AIRBAGS 
Save Lives and Reduce Injuries
In frontal crashes, driver airbags  
reduce driver fatalities by 29%	  
Combining driver airbag with using  
seatbelt reduce fatalities in frontal  
crashes by 61%	 Driver airbags also  
reduce severe injuries in frontal crashes  
by 32%	 Autoliv offers driver,  
passenger and knee airbags	

STEERING WHEELS  
With the Lives of Others  
in Your Hands
Autoliv is the leading supplier of steering 
wheels	 The steering wheel is a key element 
for the interaction between driver and vehi-
cle	 This is reflected in our innovative HMI-
(human machine interface) steering wheel 
for future cars, which uses touch technology 
and air gesture controls to keep the driver in 
full control and demonstrates the seamless 
transition between manual and automated 
driving	 It enables the driver to control more 
functions with less distraction, which makes 
for a safer driving experience	

10

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Products 

SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS 
Reduce Head Injuries
In near-side crashes, curtain and  
side airbags together reduce  
fatalities by 31% for vehicle occupants	  
Autoliv offers front and rear side  
airbags, curtain and far  
side airbags	

CHILD SEATS 
Protect Children
An integrated booster cushion  
and specially designed seatbelt  
offer a vehicle system solution that  
improves the comfort and safety  
of children while reducing the  
risk of misuse	

SEATBELTS 
Top Life-Saving Device
The seatbelt is the top life-saving device	  
It reduces fatalities for front row occupants in 
passenger cars by 45% for all types of crashes	 
Seatbelts also reduce moderate and severe  
injuries by 45%	 The technology content of  
modern seatbelts has increased to include  
constant load limiters, adaptive load limiters, 
pretensioners, pre-pretensioners with  
electrical motor activation, warning functions 
and integrated ECUs (electronic  
control units)	

PYRO SWITCH 
Stop the Fire
Autoliv has developed a device  
to stop potential fires caused  
by short-circuiting: a pyro safety  
switch that can disconnect or  
cut the power after an  
accident	

11

Our Customers and  
Major Launches in 2018 

Autoliv delivers to more than 100 car brands worldwide and with a market share of around 40% in 2018.

In 2018, our top five customers represented 50% of sales and 
the  ten  largest  represented  79%	  This  reflects  the  concen-
tration in the automotive industry	 The five largest vehicle 
manufacturers (OEMs) in 2018 accounted for 49% of global 
light  vehicle  production  (LVP)  and  the  ten  largest  for  74%	 
A  delivery  contract  typically  covers  the  lifetime  of  a  vehicle 
model, which is normally between four and six years depending 
on customer platform sourcing preferences and strategies	

CUSTOMER SALES TRENDS
Asian vehicle producers have become increasingly impor-
tant to Autoliv and now represent around 45% of global sales, 
compared  to  35%  five  years  ago	  Of  the  Asian  OEMs,  the  

Japanese  OEMs  represent  32%  of  our  sales,  compared  to 
24%  in  2013	  This  reflects  their  increasing  share  of  global 
LVP  and  our  stronger  market  position  based  on  our  local 
presence  in  Japan	  OEMs  from  China  represent  4%  of  our 
sales	 The organic sales increase from Autoliv’s companies 
in  China  of  around  5%  was  driven  by  both  domestic  and 
global OEMs	 Sales growth to domestic OEMs was mainly 
attributable to Geely, including Lynk & Co, and Great Wall	 

Sales  to  European  OEMs  remained  unchanged  at  33%, 
compared to 2013	 The Detroit-3 now account for 19% of our 
global sales, down from 30% in 2013	 This is in part due to the 
sale of GM's European operations, Opel, to PSA and the lin-
gering effects of constraints on new business in 2011 and 2012	

Ford Focus

Nissan Altima 

Honda Crider

12

 
Kia K3

RAM 1500

Mercedes Sprinter

Subaru Forester

Audi Q3

VW Jetta

Nissan Altima: Knee airbag, side airbag, in-
flatable curtain and seatbelt with pretensioner. 

Kia K3: Steering wheel and seatbelt with 
pretensioner.

Subaru Forester: Passenger airbag, side 
airbag and inflatable curtain.

Ford Focus: Knee airbag, passenger airbag, 
side airbag and seatbelt with pretensioner.

RAM 1500: Driver airbag with steering wheel, 
passenger airbag and side airbag.

Honda Crider: Driver airbag with steering 
wheel, passenger airbag, side airbag and 
seatbelt with pretensioner.

Mercedes Sprinter: Driver airbag with steer-
ing wheel, passenger airbag, side airbag, in-
flatable curtain and seatbelt with pretensioner.

Audi Q3: Driver airbag with steering wheel, 
passenger airbag and active seatbelt with 
pretensioner.

VW Jetta: Driver airbag, seatbelt with  
pretensioner and steering wheel.

13

AUTOLIV AIRBAGS 

Airbag and Seatbelt Together  
Reduces Fatalities by 

61%

In frontal crashes, driver airbags reduce driver fatalities  
by 29%	 Driver airbags and seatbelts together reduce  
fatalities in frontal crashes by 61%	 Driver airbags also  
reduce severe injuries in frontal crashes by 32%	 Autoliv  
offers frontal, knee, side, curtain and front center airbags	

14

AUTOLIV AIRBAGS 

Airbag and Seatbelt Together  

Reduces Fatalities by 

15

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Financial and Sustainability Targets

Financial Targets

Our targets reflect the key performance measures through which we execute  
our key strategies	 The financial targets cover the areas of sales growth, margin  
development and capital structure	 

>$10 Bn Sales

~13% Adj.
Operating Margin 1)

1.0 x Leverage
Ratio  2)
(0.5-1.5x Range)

In  2018,  Autoliv’s  organic  sales  increased  by  5% 3), 
compared with an underlying automotive safety mar-
ket that grew less than 2%	 Sales for airbags (including 
steering wheels) accounted for 66% of group sales, while 
seatbelts accounted for 34%	 In 2018, Autoliv achieved 

an adjusted operating margin of 10.5%. During 2018,  
Autoliv’s net debt position increased by $1,250 million 
to  $1,619  million,  mainly  due  to  the  capitalization  of 
Veoneer  prior  to  the  spin-off	  At  the  end  of  2018  the 
leverage ratio was 1.5 which is within the target range	

1) Non-US GAAP measure excludes capacity alignment and antitrust related costs	 
2) Leverage Ratio = Debt per policy/LTM EBITDA; Debt per policy = Net debt + Pension liabilities	
3) Non-U	 S	 GAAP measure	

16

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Financial and Sustainability Targets

Sustainability Targets

Our sustainability targets reflect our vision of saving more lives and our customer  
focus, innovation, operational excellence, commitment to our employees, and cost  
and risk management	 

Innovate Life-Saving Products

OUR TARGETS

100,000

Lives saved  
By 2030

Limit Our Impact on the Environment

OUR TARGETS

* Efficiency target, measured per part delivered.

12 %

REDUCTION
C02e Emissions* 
Scope 1 & 2  
By 2023

12 %

REDUCTION
Energy 
Consumption*  
By 2023

100 %

PERFORMED
Water Risk 
Assessment  
By 2020

Y-o-Y

REDUCTION
Waste and 
Scrap  
Continuous

Commit to Our Employees

OUR TARGETS

0.50

Incident Rate  
By 2022 

5.00

Severity Rate  
By 2022 

Act Ethically & Commit to Society

OUR TARGETS

* Completion rate measured from the annual target group.

100 %

Anti-corruption 
training completion*  
Continuous 

100 %

Anti-trust 
training  
completion*  
Continuous

100 %

Code of Conduct  
Certification* 
Continuous 

Supply Chain Sustainability

OUR TARGETS

* DM = Direct Material.

100 %

100 %

95 %

New DM* suppliers 
sustainability audited 
Continuous 

All DM* suppliers 
sustainability audited 
By 2021 

DM* suppliers respond 
to Conflict minerals 
Survey. By 2022 

17

Market and Operations
Quality and Comfort  
from Steering Wheels to  
Seatbelts and Beyond

18

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Market and Operations

A utoliv  develops,  manufactures 

and  markets  protective  sys-
tems,  such  as  airbags,  seat-
belts  and  steering  wheels, 
for  the  automotive  industry.  
Autoliv  spun  off  its  Electronics  segment 
in  mid  2018,  resulting  in  a  company  with 
a more focused strategy, increased opera-
tional  flexibility  and  higher  potential  for 
profitable  growth.  Since  1997,  our  com-
pound  annual  growth  rate  (CAGR)  has 
been  5.6%,  compared  with  a  market  rate 
of around 3%. Our ability to outperform the 
market is a result of a steady flow of new 
safety technologies, a strong focus on qual-
ity  and  a  superior  global  production  and 
engineering  footprint.  This  has  enabled  
Autoliv  to  increase  its  market  share  from 
27% in 1997 to around 40% in 2018 In ad-
dition  to  our  primary  goal  of  saving  lives, 
quality is key to our financial performance 
and future success. Due to our relentless 
focus  on  quality,  only  around  2%  of  vehi-
cles recalled since 2010 have been related 
to  Autoliv.  This  is  a  favorable  result  given 
our global market share of around 40%.

MARKET AND COMPETITION 
The  automotive  safety  market  is  driven 
by  two  factors:  light  vehicle  production 
(LVP)  and  content  per  vehicle  (CPV).  Over 
the  coming  three-year  period,  from  2018 

through  2021,  our  market  is  expected  to 
grow by approximately 4% per year, which 
is  about  2  percentage  points  more  than 
LVP,  mainly  due  to  increased  safety  con-
tent  per  vehicle  in  growth  markets,  but 
also thanks to higher installation rates  of 
knee airbags and more advanced seatbelt 
systems.

LIGHT VEHICLE PRODUCTION (LVP) 
LVP  has  increased  at  an  average  annual 
growth rate of 2.6% over the last two dec-
ades, despite the cyclical nature of the au-
tomotive industry. LVP is expected to grow 
to close to 97 million units in 2021 from ap-
proximately 91 million in 2018, according to 
IHS. Almost all of this expansion will take 
place in growth markets, predominantly in 
China, India and South America.

features,  Autoliv  can 

CONTENT PER VEHICLE (CPV) 
By  continuously  developing  and  introduc-
ing  new  technologies  with  higher  value 
added 
influence 
safety  content  per  vehicle.  As  a  result  of 
the  increasing  average  CPV,  the  automo-
tive  safety  market  has  outgrown  LVP.  Our 
steady  flow  of  new  technologies  has  also 
enabled  us  to  further  outpace  the  mar-
ket and increase our market shares in all 
product areas and regions.

Light vehicle production
In million units
Source: IHS January 17, 2019

~91M

~97M

4%

3%

(1)%

(1)%

1%

(0)%

Other

China

S. Korea
Japan
Western 
Europe

North 
America

Growth2)
Markets

Developed1) 
Markets

2018 Content per vehicle3)
US$ per vehicle

400

300

200

100

0

Average: ~$225

2018

CAGR

2021

NA

WEU

Japan

EEU

China

SA

India

1) Developed Markets (Western Europe, Japan, North 
America, South Korea).  
2) Growth Markets (Eastern Europe, China, Rest of Asia, 
South America, Middle East/Africa).

3) Company estimates. Includes seatbelts, airbags, steering 
wheels and pedestrian safety. 

19

Quality and Comfort  

from Steering Wheels to  

Seatbelts and Beyond

 
 
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Market and Operations

COMPETITORS 
Autoliv’s  major  competitors  are  Joyson 
Safety  Systems  (JSS)  and  ZF.  JSS  was 
formed  through  the  merger  of  KSS  and 
Takata  Corporation.  JSS  is  owned  by  the 
Chinese  company  Ningbo  Joyson  Elec-
tronic  and  is  estimated  to  hold  a  global 
market  share  of  24%.  ZF  has  an  estimat-
ed  global  market  share  of  17%.  In  Japan, 
Brazil, South Korea and China, there are a 
number  of  local  suppliers  with  close  ties 
to domestic vehicle manufacturers. For ex-
ample, Toyota uses Tokai Rika for seatbelts 
and Toyoda Gosei for airbags and steering 
wheels. These suppliers generally receive 
a significant portion of the Toyota business 
in Japan. Similarly, Mobis, a major supplier 
to  Hyundai/Kia  in  South  Korea,  generally 
receives a significant part of their business. 
Other  competitors  include  Nihon  Plast 
and  Ashimori  in  Japan,  Jinheng  in  China, 
Samsong in South Korea and Chris Cintos 
in South America. Collectively, these com-
petitors account for the majority of the re-
maining 19% global market share.

GLOBAL PRODUCTION FOOTPRINT 
With  manufacturing  facilities  in  25  coun-
tries  covering  all  regions,  Autoliv  has  the 
best  global  footprint  in  the  industry.  We 
work hard to be the supplier of choice on 

global  vehicle  platforms  and  to  grow  with 
our customers as they extend their global 
production. 

Component production is concentrated 
to  a  few  locations,  while  final  assembly 
plants are located close to customers. 

Finished  products  are  delivered  “just 
in  time”,  sometimes  several  times  a  day, 
to  vehicle  manufacturer  plants.  For  some 
customers,  we  have  established  final  as-
sembly  centers  inside  or  close  to  their 
manufacturing  plants.  Autoliv’s  products 
are  fed  into  the  vehicle  assembly  line  in 
the right order, in accordance with the car 
buyers’  selections  of  colors  and  optional 
equipment. Autoliv’s final assembly center 
receives a new order almost every minute, 
and  within  two  to  five  hours  (depending 
on the product) the order is executed and 
the product delivered. Autoliv’s production 
lines  and  equipment  are  often  developed 
by Autoliv itself to ensure standardization, 
high  quality  and  the  integrity  of  propri-
etary  production  technologies.  Including 
joint  venture  operations,  Autoliv  has  ap-
proximately 64 production facilities located 
in  25  countries,  consisting  of  component 
factories and final assembly factories. The 
products  manufactured  by  Autoliv’s  con-
solidated subsidiaries in 2018 consisted of 
~ 151 million complete seatbelt systems (of 

Headcount

Tech center

Production

  Airbags

  Seatbelts

  Steering wheels

  Other 3)

Sales and support office

BRAZIL1)

CANADA

CHINA1)

ESTONIA1)

FRANCE

GERMANY HUNGARY1)

INDIA1)

INDONESIA1)

ITALY

JAPAN MALAYSIA1,2)

POLAND1) ROMANIA1) RUSSIA1)

SPAIN

SWEDEN THAILAND1) TUNISIA1)

TURKEY1)

KINGDOM

USA

SOUTH 

AFRICA1)

SOUTH 

KOREA

UNITED 

939

418

8 891

775

2 286

1 362

2 389

2 220

169

14

2 173

3 539

10 101

166

157

751

271

3 257

2 661

2 826

222

5 219





















































































MEXICO1)

14 156

NETHER-

LANDS

7

PHILIP-

PINES1)

1 306























































489









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

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



1) Defined as a Best Cost Country	  
2) Includes headcount in non-consolidated joint ventures	  
3) Includes weaving and sewing of textile cushions, seatbelt webbing, inflators,  
      components for airbag and seatbelt products	

20

 
 
 
 
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Market and Operations

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Market and Operations

which ~79 million were fitted with preten-
sioners), ~ 99 million side airbags (includ-
ing  curtain  airbags),  ~  56  million  frontal 
airbags and ~ 20 million steering wheels.

REDUCE DIRECT MATERIAL COSTS 
Approximately  half  of  our  revenues  are 
spent  on  direct  materials  from  external 
suppliers. Autoliv mainly purchases manu-
factured  components,  and  approximately 
50%  of  the  company’s  component  costs 
comprise of raw materials value. We take 
several  actions  to  mitigate  higher  com-
modity prices, such as re-designing prod-
ucts to reduce material content and weight, 
and  component  standardization  to  reduce 
complexity and gain cost advantages.

REDUCE LABOR COSTS 
In  2018,  wages,  salaries  and  other  labor 
costs corresponded to almost 10% of sales. 
To  reduce  labor  costs  while  offsetting  the 
price erosion on our products, we continu-
ously implement productivity improvement 
programs, expand production in Best Cost 
Countries (BCCs) and institute restructuring 
and  capacity  alignment  activities.  Autoliv 
has more than 80% of its direct workers in 
BCC. 

Our continuous improvement strategies 
have enabled productivity improvements in 

production well above our productivity im-
provement  target  of  at  least  5%  per  year 
for the past five years, except for in 2018. In 
2018 we were unable to reach our target due 
to  the  sharp  increase  in  launch  activities, 
especially in North America. 

We  foresee  opportunities  for  further 
productivity on gains from increasing use of 
automation in our assembly for lean manu-
facturing processes. Additionally, automated 
cells  typically  perform  the  manufacturing 
process  with  reduced  variability.  This  re-
sults  in  greater  control  and  consistency  of 
product quality.

Market by region 3)
US$ (Billions)

1.1

~$20B

3.3

4.4

2.2

3.8

5.7

~12%

~8%

~1%

~2%

~2%

~(1)%

~$23B

4,6

5.5

2.3

4.0

5.5

Other

China

Growth2)
Markets

1.1

S. Korea
Japan

Western 
Europe

North 
America

Developed1)
Markets

2018

CAGR

2021

1)  Developed markets (Western Europe, Japan, North America,  
  South Korea).  
2)  Growth markets (Eastern Europe, China, Rest of Asia, South  
  America, Middle East/Africa). 
3)  Company estimates. Includes seatbelts, airbags, steering wheels  
  and pedestrian safety.

POLAND1) ROMANIA1) RUSSIA1)

SOUTH 
AFRICA1)

SOUTH 
KOREA

SPAIN

SWEDEN THAILAND1) TUNISIA1)

TURKEY1)

UNITED 
KINGDOM

BRAZIL1)

CANADA

CHINA1)

ESTONIA1)

FRANCE

GERMANY HUNGARY1)

INDIA1)

INDONESIA1)

ITALY

JAPAN MALAYSIA1,2)

939

418

8 891

775

2 286

1 362

2 389

2 220

169

14

2 173

MEXICO1)

14 156

NETHER-
LANDS

7

PHILIP-
PINES1)

1 306

Headcount

Tech center

Production

  Airbags

  Seatbelts

  Steering wheels

  Other 3)

Sales and support office









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



























































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















3 539

10 101

166

157

751

271

489







3 257

2 661

2 826

222







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













USA

5 219









21

 
 
 
 
AUTOLIV SEATBELTS
Top Life-Saving Device 
The seatbelt is the top life-saving device	 Seatbelts reduce  
moderate and severe injuries by 45% and – even more  
importantly – reduce fatalities for front row occupants in  
passenger cars for all types of crashes by 

45%

22

23

Autoliv’s strategy  
and targets are based  
on the growing demand  
for traffic safety

1.4 M

Road 
fatalities 
worldwide 

WHO Target
50%
reduction

2030

Autoliv’s strategy  

and targets are based  

on the growing demand  

for traffic safety

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

A    utoliv's strategy and targets are 

based on the growing demand 
for traffic safety. According to 
the  World  Health  Organiza-
tion  (WHO)  1.4  million  people 
die  globally  in  road  accidents  every  year. 
In addition, 20 to 50 million people suffer 
non-fatal vehicle-related injuries, causing 
not  only  human  suffering  but  also  costs 
corresponding to about 3% of GDP in most 
countries. WHO has therefore launched a 
target to cut fatalities in half by 2030. This 
underlines the importance of our commit-
ment  to  save  more  lives  and  reduce  the 
number of injuries on our roads. The need 
for our products continues to grow. 

effective standardization, One Product One  
Process  (1P1P)  and  our  manufactur-
ing  philosophy  for  governing  processes, 
known  as  the  Autoliv  Production  System 
(APS),  they  represent  Autoliv’s  tools  and 
methods for delivering on our strategy and 
for  laying  a  strong  foundation  for  opera-
tional excellence.

PROFITABLE GROWTH
Operational  excellence  is  a  focus  for  all 
areas  of  our  operations,  from  managing 
our  order  intake  with  seamless  launches 
and  smooth  ramp-ups  to  demonstrating 
best-in-class  quality,  cost  optimization 
and improving asset utilization. 

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE 
Autoliv’s  focus  on  quality  and  cus-
tomer  focus  in  innovation 
and  operations  has  built 
trust  and  strong  de-
mand. Together  with 

                                                 B u i
Manage O r d

e

We have a strong customer focus, from 
innovation  to  manufacturing  and  deliv-
ery  of  our  products,  and  we  continue 
to  innovate  and  explore  ad-
leveraging 
expertise  for  profitable 

jacent  areas, 

l d   a  Winning Team

growth. 

r   I n t ake               Fla

wle

s

s

E

x

e

c

u

t

i

o
n

S
u
s

t

a

i

n

a

b

l

e

G

        Profitable G r o w t

h

r

o

wth                  Cu s t

                                    Build a Winnin g   T e a m  

o m e r Focus 

MANAGE ORDER INTAKE

FLAWLESS EXECUTION

• 

• 

• 

• 

Seamless launch of identified market opportuni-
ties based on diligent preparations and application 
engineering 

Manage increased order pressure through smooth 
ramp-up of operations

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Boost new orders by remaining at forefront of  
innovation

Explore adjacent areas, leveraging expertise for  
profitable growth

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Execute with diligence, reliability and efficiency 

Demonstrate best-in-class quality with superior 
operational excellence, cost optimization and asset 
utilization

CUSTOMER FOCUS

Build upon successful order execution to sustain 
customer trust

Truly commit to customers with day-to-day attention

Support customers locally

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

AUTOLIV PRODUCTION  
SYSTEM
The  Autoliv  Production  Sys-
tem (APS) is our manufactur-
ing  philosophy  for  governing  processes 
based  on  the  guiding  principles  of  con-
tinuous  flow,  quality  right  first  time, 
visualization, and teamwork and involve-
ment.  It  describes  the  target  conditions 
and  tools  to  be  applied  within  our  fa-
cilities  to  achieve  delivery  of  goods  and 
services  at  the  right  time,  in  the  right 
amount,  at  the  required  quality  and  at 
the  lowest  cost  possible  to  all  our  cus-
tomers,  regardless  of  whether  they  are 
external or internal. 

APS  integrates  essential  quality  ele-
ments,  such  as  mistake  proofing,  sta-
tistical  process  control  and  operator 
involvement, 
the  manufacturing 
processes  so  all  Autoliv  employees  are 
aware  of  and  understand  the  critical 
connection between themselves and our 
lifesaving products. 

into 

QUALITY
Autoliv’s  primary  goal  is  to 
save lives. Our products nev-
er get a second chance. This 
is why we never compromise on quality. As 
people’s  lives  depend  on  our  safety  prod-
ucts, we strive for zero defects in all we do. 
Our  pursuit  of  excellence  extends 
throughout  the  value-chain  to  ensure  ro-
bust  product  designs,  flawless  compo-
nents from suppliers and our own in-house 
component  companies,  manufacturing  of 
flawless products with a system for verify-
ing that our products conform with specifi-
cations, and an advanced traceability sys-
tem in the event of a recall.

To continuously improve our own quality, 
we run a program known as “Q5” aimed at 
shaping a proactive quality culture of zero de-
fects. It addresses quality in five dimensions: 
customers, products, suppliers, growth and 
behavior. A vital part of Q5 is Jidoka, the com-
mitment  that  when  an  operator  detects  an 
abnormality he or she can directly stop the 
line to take appropriate actions. 

Our  “zero-defect”  principle  extends  be-
yond Autoliv to the entire supplier base. All of 
our suppliers must accept the strict quality 
standards in the global Autoliv Supplier Man-
ual, which defines our quality requirements. 
It focuses on preventing bad parts from being 
produced by our suppliers and helps elimi-
nate  defective  intermediate  products  in  our 
assembly lines as early as possible.

Relentless focus on Quality  
through Q5 

Quality Improvement
Reduction of non-conforming events,  
reference year 2013

Minimal recalls
Share of global recalls and  
  ~40% market share

Design  
robust  
products

Buy 
flawless 
components

Manufacture
flawless 
products 

Verify
product 
conformity

42%

35%

21%

2%

Product  
and process  
development

Supplier 
management

Production
system

Mistake 
proofing

7%

3%

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

26

 
 
 
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

~2% share of  
global recalls 

and ~40% market share

ONE PRODUCT  
ONE PROCESS – 1P1P 
Through effective standardi-
zation,  we  create  customer 
and  shareholder  value.  One 
Product  One  Process  (1P1P)  promotes 
total  cost  management  in  engineering, 
manufacturing and purchasing. 

Reducing complexity is key to lowering 
costs  and  increasing  product  robustness, 
resulting in higher customer satisfaction. 
Autoliv’s  1P1P  initiative  achieves  reduced 
complexity by standardizing certain parts, 
resulting in fewer parts needed to satisfy 
customer projects. Progress is driven by 

cross-functional  product  teams  with  the 
authority  and  responsibility  to  manage 
one  or  several  product  families  with  a 
global mindset in terms of product design, 
manufacturing and supplier management. 
These  product  teams  also  ensure  proper 
usage  of  the  products  in  customer  pro-
jects and manage the transfer of product 
knowledge.  1P1P  promotes  a  culture  in 
which lessons learned are shared globally, 
thereby  incrementally  bringing  us  closer 
to zero defects.

27

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

Uniquely Positioned to Save More Lives

INNOVATION
Our research focuses on im-
proving safety to reduce road 
fatalities  and  injuries.  New 
industry  trends,  such  as  au-
tonomous driving, electrification and more 
comfortable cockpits, are generating new 
safety  needs  that  call  for  more  sophisti-
cated safety products. 

Autoliv has pioneered automotive safe-
ty for over 60 years, including the introduc-
tion of several world firsts. Our approach 
to real-life safety, together with our meth-
ods and processes, and our ambition and 
dedication to save more lives, puts Autoliv 
in a unique position. As a safety leader, we 
can identify upcoming opportunities.

SOLUTIONS BASED ON REAL-LIFE DATA
A  key  differentiating  factor  is  that  we  do 
research and find solutions based on real-
life  data.  Our  research  and  development 
are  based  on  real  traffic  accidents  and 
injuries as well as numerous crash tests, 
user clinics, simulations, driving data col-
lection and the vast expertise gathered by 
our specialists over many years. 

The way we innovate solutions is a key 
differentiator that sets us apart from our 
competitors.

Real  
Life 
Safety

Start of 
production

Accident  
statistics on  
a macro level

Validation of
new safety 
systems for  
Real Life  
Traffic

The Autoliv 
Circle of Life for 
Traffic Safety

Deep studies  
of accidents  
and incidents

Develop 
new test 
methods

Biomechanics  
and human  
factors 

Find the best 
technology  
for safety 
needs

How the human  
is suited for 
Real Life Traffic

Long Track-Record of Commercializing Industry Firsts
Deeply Integrated R&D Dialog with Global Customer Base

First Seatbelt

Belt Grabber*

Steering Wheel 
with Integrated 
Crash Sensor

Knee
Airbag*

Side Curtain
Airbag*

Fixed Hub
Steering 
Wheel*

1956 

1986 

1992 

   1995 

 1998 

2004 

2006 

2010 

2012  

2013 

2016

* Industry first

28

  
  
  
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

Test Services for Industry and Customer Needs

Autoliv offers state-of-the-art laboratories that replicate customer specifications 
as well as a variety of sophisticated and cost-efficient test services tailored to 
meet industry needs	 Autoliv handles every aspect of testing – from test method 
development, pre-test preparations, post-test analysis, and computer simulations 
to crash testing and safety improvement recommendations	 

COMPUTER SIMULATIONS
Developed through years of research and develop-
ment,  computer  simulations  can  be  an  economi-
cal  and  time-efficient  alternative  to  physical  test-
ing. Modeling also provides the capability to expand 
product or system evaluations to include test con-
ditions and scenarios for which physical testing is 
not possible or practical. 

COMPONENT TESTING
Autoliv’s  test  centers  offer  an  extensive  range  of 
test  capabilities  for  testing  specific  components, 
such  as  seatbelt  webbing,  load  brackets,  airbag 
fabrics, and metal or plastic parts.

PRODUCT TESTING
The performance of a complete restraint product can 
be  tested  in  our  seatbelt  or  airbag  laboratories.  All 
products  are  both  statically  and  dynamically  tested. 
Airbag systems are deployment-tested under various 
temperatures (with or without dynamic loading on the 
bag). Computer simulation models are then validated 
based on the product testing results.

SUB-SYSTEM SLED TESTING
During the product development phase, system-level 

performance is evaluated using critical components 
of  the  full  system  tested  dynamically  on  a  sled.  In-
stead of destroying a complete car for each test, the 
stripped vehicle body is reinforced, placed on a sled, 
fitted  with  the  sub-system  components,  and  accel-
erated  in  accordance  with  that  vehicle’s  crash  test 
characteristics.  The  recorded  crash  pulse  for  the 
simulated car can be accurately repeated, thus tightly 
controlling the test-to-test variables. 

VEHICLE CRASH TESTING
In a vehicle crash test, impacts can be performed 
up to a velocity of 100 km/h. Autoliv can conduct a 
number  of  different  test  modes  depending  on  the 
specific  requirements  of  the  car  manufacturer  or 
governmental  regulations.  Common  test  modes 
include flat barrier impact, angled barrier impact, 
offset barrier impact, pole barrier front or side im-
pact, under ride barrier impact, mobile barrier, side 
or rear impact, car to car, and roll-over tests. Sev-
eral Autoliv sites also perform crash tests on elec-
tric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle models. Sled 
and full vehicle crash tests are supervised from a 
control room using a fully computerized crash con-
trol  system  –  and  customers  can  view  the  crash 
testing from a well-equipped observation room.

Safety Passenger
Vent Airbag*

Seatbelt
Locking 
Tongue*

Active Seatbelt

Pedestrian
Airbag*

Bag-in-Belt

Roll-Over Curtain
for Heavy Trucks*

Steering Wheel with 
Hand Sensor Detection*

1956 

1986 

1992 

   1995 

 1998 

2004 

2006 

2010 

2012  

2013 

2016

29

  
  
  
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

Research in Close  
Collaboration with  
Customers and  
Universities

A utoliv has customer technical cent-

ers  in  all  key  markets  and  5,700 
people  in  research  development 
and  application  engineering.  We 
support  our  customers  through 
our  technical  centers  and  manufacturing  fa-
cilities  located  close  to  their  assembly  plants 
in  North  America,  Western  Europe  and  Asia. 
Our application engineering projects are com-
pleted at our technical centers located close to 
our  customers  and  in  close  cooperation  with 
the  manufacturing  units.  The  majority  of  Au-
toliv’s RD&E projects are focused on applica-
tion engineering to support the development of 
new vehicle models. 

Autoliv  proudly  participates  in  research 
collaborations  that  include  universities  and 
research  institutes  with  the  aim  to  improve 
traffic safety. In 2018, we joined the new Future 
Occupant Safety for Crashes in Cars (OSCCAR) 
project in which we partner with car manufac-
turers, research organizations and other auto-
motive  suppliers  to  harmonize  the  designs  of 
future safety systems for self-driving cars.

RESEARCH AREAS
Traffic Safety Analysis
To  constantly  improve  traffic  safety,  we  need 
to know what is happening on the roads today, 
how current safety systems perform in real-life 
traffic, and how to design safety systems for the 
future.  Autoliv  uses  various  data  sources  and 
methods  to  prioritize  research  topics,  develop 
test  methods,  calculate  retrospective  safety 
benefits and predict future benefits. The analy-
sis and predictions from this research serve as

requirements for 
the development of 
future safety systems.

Human Factors
Autoliv  designs  solutions  based  on 
truly  cross-disciplinary  research.  Vehicle 
sensing  capabilities  need  to  be  systemized 
so that the vehicle can take driving context and 
driver  state  into  account  when  responding  to 
traffic events. Our research includes everything  
from road-user behavior to usage of safety sys-
tems and comfort. 

Biomechanics
To  limit  the  injuries  from  a  car  accident,  we 
need tools that represent a diverse population, 
and we need to understand the implications of 
the  change  in  mobility  and  improved  sensing 
to develop future occupant protection. Autoliv’s 
advanced omnidirectional human body models 
simulate real human bodies containing bones, 
muscles and organs. We can depict the char-
acteristics  of  a  diverse  population  of  differing 
age, sex, weight and height. This allows us to 
study  injury  mechanisms  on  a  very  detailed 
level, which is necessary for such areas as up-
coming  new  restraint  systems  for  automated 
driving.

30

 
 
 
Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Strategy

SAFETY IN A CHANGING WORLD
The  vehicles  of  the  future,  with  in-
creasing  levels  of  electrification  and 
autonomy,  are  placing  new  demands 
on automotive safety systems. Autoliv is 
well positioned to meet future automotive 
safety needs. Our current portfolio provides 
a foundation for vehicles with higher autono-
my. Our solutions for autonomous driving are 
a natural evolution of our safety products, po-
sitioning Autoliv at the forefront of innovation. 

As we strive to improve existing airbag ef-
fectiveness, we discover advances in engineer-
ing design that will protect individuals for years 
to  come.  We  are  continually  developing  new 

seatbelt  systems,  integrating  mechatronics  in 
order  to  drive  towards  reduced  reaction  time, 
proactive safety features, and improved comfort 
and customization to accommodate any kind of 
journey.  Our  research  in  steering  wheel  tech-
nology  has  resulted  in  improved  ease  of  con-
trol  and  additional  driver  monitoring  systems, 
including solutions for autonomous driving. In 
the future transportation system, with a mixed 
fleet of vehicles, there will be a need to protect 
vulnerable road users. This is increasingly be-
ing recognized by governments, and Autoliv is 
currently developing countermeasures for pe-
destrians, cyclists and powered two-wheelers.

Life cell airbag
First developed by Autoliv Research, the life cell  
airbag provides protection regardless of how a 
driver or passenger is seated, including the seat 
orientation in proximity to the steering wheel and 
seatback orientation.

New safety systems 
A higher level of 
autonomy allows 
for more flexibility 
in terms of interior 
layout. Flexible  
seating with new 
layouts and posi-
tions requires new 
safety systems.

New seating concepts requiring new restraint systems.

31

The development of future  
leaders, experts and specialists  
is a top priority at Autoliv

32

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Employees

Our Employees

C ontinuing  as  the  world’s  leading 

supplier  of  automotive  safety  sys-
tems requires a drive for excellence, 
from  the  earliest  phases  of  prod-
uct  development  to  the  sales  and 
services that we offer to our customers, and a 
passion  for  saving  more  lives.  Every  year,  our 
products save more than 30,000 lives and pre-
vent ten times as many severe injuries. We take 
great  pride  in  our  mission.  Innovation,  qual-
ity and customer focus are key factors for our 
success. We are an innovative business and a 
global leader in our industry. We are constantly 
looking for professionals, experts and leaders 
who share our commitment to saving lives and 
who can contribute to our mission.

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES 
Autoliv  offers  a  positive  working  environment 
with  challenging  projects.  Development 
is 
essential  in  a  highly  competitive  and  rapidly 
changing  environment.  An  important  corner-
stone of each employee’s growth is the ongoing 
personal, transparent communication between 
the team member and manager, which is sum-
marized  during  an  annual  performance  and 
development  dialog  (PDD).  During  2018,  99% 
of  targeted  employees  conducted  a  PDD  with 
their managers. To further support the growth 
of  our  employees,  Autoliv  has  a  multitude  of 
including  technical 
development  channels, 
and  specialist  career  paths,  international  as-
signments and other such programs. Each year, 
more than 8,500 employees attend at least one 
training program, and we work to promote con-
tinuous development on the job, every day.

HEALTH AND SAFETY 
Autoliv  is  committed  to  providing  a  working 
environment  that  promotes  the  health,  safety 
and  welfare  of  our  employees.  Each  Autoliv 
facility implements Autoliv’s health and safety 
management  system,  which  is  supported  by 
leadership  teams.  The  implementation  of  the 
system  is  monitored  through  internal  and  ex-
ternal audits. 

DIVERSITY 
Autoliv  is  committed  to  diversity  and  values 
differences  among  our  employees  as  rich  as 
the diverse characteristics of the end users of 
our products around the world. Our workforce 
reflects the diversity of the countries and cul-
tures in which we operate. At the end of 2018, 
46%  (44%  in  2017)  of  our  workforce  and  21% 
(15%  in  2017)  of  our  senior  management  po-
sitions were filled by women. We have opera-
tions in 27 different countries, with 28% of our 
workforce located in Asia, 31% in the Americas 
and  41%  in  Europe  (including  Africa,  Russia 
and Turkey).

LABOR RIGHTS 
Autoliv is committed to offering fair terms and 
conditions  of  employment.  Our  values,  code 
of conduct, talent development strategies and 
employment policies support the principles in 
the  United  Nations  Universal  Declaration  of 
Human Rights, and the International Labor Or-
ganization’s Fundamental Principles and Labor 
Standards.

Well balanced workforce
By age, group, and gender in %

Men

Women

2%

4%

9%

16%

22%

1%

>60

51-60

41-50

31-40

21-30

<20

1%

4%

9%

15%

15%

1%

33

AUTOLIV'S STEERING WHEEL

Steering Wheel 
Technologies Becoming 
More Sophisticated

In addition to being a critical safety component which contains the driver 
airbag, the steering wheel is also the primary device that drivers use to 
interact with their vehicles	  Autoliv continues to develop and incorporate 
the latest innovations, including touch technologies, gesture controls, and 
other components that will facilitate the transition between manual and 
automated driving	

34

35

Creating Shareholder Value

By creating customer satisfaction, maintaining tight cost control  
and developing new products, we generate cash for long-term growth, 
financial stability and competitive returns to our shareholders	

A utoliv  has  always  had  a  strong 

cash  flow  and  cash  generation 
focus.  Our  operating  cash  flow 
has always exceeded capital ex-
penditures.  On  average,  operations  have 
generated  around  $792  million  in  cash 
per year over the last five years, while our 
capital  expenditures,  net,  have  averaged 
around  $505  million  per  year  during  the 
same  period.  Since  1997  the  Company 
has  converted  approximately  90%  of  its 
net income to free cash flow, i.e. cash flow 
after capital expenditures.

CAPITAL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
Autoliv’s  strong  cash  flow  reflects  both 
the  Company’s  earnings  performance 
and  it’s  improvements  in  capital  effi-
ciency. During 2018, our capital turnover 
rate, sales in relation to average annual 
capital  employed,  was  2.5  times.  This 
was  a  small  improvement  compared  to 
2.3 times in 2017. However, on a compa-
rable basis for continuing operations, the 
improvement was 0.7 times.

OUR CASH FLOW MODEL
When  analyzing  how  best  to  use  each 
from  operations,  
year’s  cash 

flows 

Autoliv’s Executive Management and the 
Board of Directors use a model to create 
shareholder  value  that  considers  impor-
tant variables such as the marginal cost 
of  borrowing,  the  return  on  marginal  in-
vestm ents and the price of Autoliv shares 
(see cash flow illustration). When evaluat-
ing the various uses of cash, the need for 
flexibility  is  weighed  against  acquisitions 
and other potential settlements.

INVESTING IN OPERATIONS
To  create  long-term  shareholder  value, 
cash flow from operations should only be 
used to finance investments in operations 
until the point when the return on invest-
ment no longer exceeds the cost of capi-
tal.  Our  historical  pre-tax  cost  of  capital 
has been approximately 11%. 

Autoliv’s  pre-tax  return  on  capital 
employed has always exceeded this level, 
except during the financial crisis in 2008-
2009. During the last five years, return on 
capital employed has varied between 13% 
and 21%, i.e. 1 to 2 times the pre-tax cost 
of capital.

In  2018,  $555  million  was  reinvested 
in  the  form  of  capital  expenditures,  net. 
This  corresponds  to  94%  of  the  year’s  

operating cash flow of $591 million. It was 
also around 40% higher than depreciation 
and amortization due to our strong order 
intake and the need for additional manu-
facturing capacity. 

ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND 
INVESTMENTS IN ASSETS
In  order  to  accelerate  company  growth 
and  create  shareholder  value  over  time, 
we use some of the cash flow generated 
for  acquisitions  and  for  investments  in 
assets  such  as  joint  ventures  and  intel-
lectual property. These are typically made 
to  consolidate  our  position  in  the  indus-
try,  increase  our  vertical  integration  or 
expand  into  new  markets.  Divestments 
could  be  made  for  instance  with  the  ob-
jective  to  optimize  business  culture  and 
enhance business focus. In 2018, we dis-
tributed  our  Electronics  business  seg-
ment to our share-holders in the form of 
a  dividend.  The  new  company,  Veoneer, 
had its first day of trading on July 2, 2018. 

SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
Since  Autoliv  has  historically  used  both 
dividend payments and share repurchas-
es  to  create  shareholder  value,  and  we 

Cash flow vs. CapEx
US$ (Millions)

Capital turnover rate
Times, sales in relation to average  
capital employed

Assets by category* 
US$ (Millions)

3

2

1

0

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018* 

Cash flow from operations
Capital expenditures, net

2017

2018

Operating working capital
Property, plant and equipment
Goodwill and other intangible assets

* Continuing operations

* Continuing operations

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

36

Autoliv Annual Report 2018  / Shareholders

Autoliv's Model for  
Creating Shareholder Value
US$ (millions)

IN                                                 OUT

do not have a set dividend policy. Instead, 
the Board of Directors regularly analyzes 
which  method  is  most  effective  in  each 
instance,  in  order  to  create  shareholder 
value.  In  2018,  the  quarterly  dividend 
increased  by  $0.02  or  more  than  3%  to 
$0.62.  In  total,  $214  million  was  used  to 
pay dividends to shareholders in 2018.

Historically,  the  dividend  has  repre-
sented  a  yield  of  approximately  2-3%  in 
relation  to  Autoliv's  average  share  price. 
In 2018, this yield was 2.7%. 

Repurchases  of  shares  can  create 
more  value  for  shareholders  than  divi-
dends, if the share price appreciates long 
term. This has been the case for Autoliv, 
since the Company’s existing 15.7 million 
treasury  shares  have  been  repurchased 
at  an  average  cost  of  $56.13  per  share, 
while the closing price at the end of 2018 
was  $70.23.  During  2018,  Autoliv  did  not 
repurchase  any  shares.  The  remaining 
Board  authorization  is  approximately  3.0 
million shares.

CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Our  debt  limitation  policy  is  to  maintain 
a  financial  leverage  commensurate  with 
a “strong investment grade credit rating” 

Shareholder Returns
US$ (Millions)

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Share buybacks
Dividend

72

124

2017

5

7

0

6
3
9

CASH
FLOW

        902         751       241                   

2018

1
9

      5

 8

                            754

Operations
Common stock issue
Change net debt and other

5

5

5

27

                     612              

16

Total acquisitions, 
net of divestitures
Capital expenditures, net
Restructuring
Dividends paid
Share buybacks

and  our  long-term  target  is  to  have  a  
leverage ratio of around 1 time and to be 
within  the  range  of  0.5  and  1.5  times.  In 
addition  to  the  above,  the  objective  is  to 
provide the Company sufficient flexibility to 
manage the inherent risks and cyclicality in 
Autoliv’s business and allow the Company 
to realize strategic opportunities and fund 
growth  initiatives  while  creating  share-
holder  value.  In  2018,  Autoliv  was  within 
the  range 
in  until  Autoliv  capitalized 
Veoneer by about $1.0 billion when it was 
spun  off  at  the  end  of  the  second  quar-
ter.  On  December  31,  2018,  the  leverage 
ratio was again back inside the range, at 
1.5 times. Autoliv holds an “A with nega-
tive  outlook”  credit  rating  by  Standard  & 
Poor's. We aim at maintaining a strong in-
vestment grade rating as our current cap-
ital  structure  should  provide  flexibility  to 
generate further shareholder returns and 
the funding of our capital requirements.

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Autoliv  common  stock  is  traded  on  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange 
("NYSE") 
while  Autoliv  Swedish  Depositary  Re-
ceipts  (SDRs)  are  traded  on  NASDAQ 
Stockholm’s  list  for  large  market  cap 
companies.  During  2018,  the  number  of 
shares outstanding increased by 0.1 mil-
lion to 87.1 million (excluding dilution and  
treasury  shares).  The  weighted  average 
number  of  shares  outstanding  for  the 

full year 2018, assuming dilution, was re-
duced  to  87.3  from  87.7  million  in  2017. 
Stock  options  (if  exercised)  and  granted 
restricted  Stock  Units  (RSUs)  could  in-
crease the number of shares outstanding 
by 0.4 million shares in total. Combined, 
this would add 0.5% to the Autoliv shares 
outstanding.  On  December  31,  2018,  3.0 
million  shares  were  available  for  repur-
chase  under  the  current  Board  authori-
zation from 2014. On December 31, 2018, 
the  Company  had  15.7  million  treasury 
shares. Autoliv estimates that there were 
approximately  70,000  beneficial  Autoliv 
owners  as  of  December  31,  2018.  Close 
to  21%  of  Autoliv’s  securities  were  held 
by  U.S.-based  shareholders  and  around 
60%  by  Sweden-based  shareholders. 
Most  of  the  remaining  Autoliv  securities 
were held in the U.K., other Nordic coun-
tries, Central Europe, Japan and Canada.

THE LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS

%

No. of shares

Holder name1)

 9.6

 9.4

 4.6

 3.7

 3.5

8,376,924 

8,206,200 

Cevian Capital AB
Alecta Pension  
Insurance Mutual

4,030,965 

Swedbank Robur Fonder AB

3,250,000  AMF Pensionsförsäkring AB
Nordea Investment  
Management AB

3,068,703  

100.0

87,144,520

Total December 31, 2018

1) Known to the Company, of approximately 70,000 shareholders,
    as of December 31, 2018. 

KEY STOCK PRICE DATA 2018

NYSE

Price ($)

Date

First trading day

Year high

Year low

Closing
NASDAQ

92.11

115.08

69.78

70.23
Price (SEK)

First trading day

Year high

Year low

Closing

737.00

993.91

622.60

629.80

Jan 2, 2018

June 6, 2018 

Dec 24, 2018

Dec 31, 2018
Date

Jan 2, 2018

June 18, 2018

Dec 27, 2018

Dec 28, 2018

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board of 
Directors

From left:

Hasse Johansson 
Director since 2018. Member of the Risk and  
Compliance Committee and the Audit Committee. 

James M. Ringler 
Director since 2002. Chairman of the Leadership 
Development and Compensation Committee. Member of 
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. 

Xiaozhi Liu 
Director since 2011. Member of the Nominating and 
Corporate Governance Committee. Member of the 
Leadership Development and Compensation  
Committee. 

Jan Carlson 
Chairman since May 2014 and Director since 2007.  

David E. Kepler 
Director since February 2015. Chairman of the  
Risk and Compliance Committee. Member of the 
Audit Committee. 

Franz-Josef Kortüm 
Director since 2014. 

Thaddeus “Ted” Senko 
Director since 2018. Chairman of the Audit  
Committee. Member of the Risk and Compliance 
Committee. 

Leif Johansson 
Director since February 2016. Chairman of the  
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. 
Member of the Leadership Development and  
Compensation Committee.

Mikael Bratt (not present in picture) 
President and CEO of Autoliv Inc. since June 2018, 
and Director since 2018. 

For more information, visit Corporate Governance and 
the proxy statement on www	autoliv	com

38

Executive  
Management  
Team

From left:

Mike Hague 
President, Autoliv Europe (AEU)
Employed 2006

Jennifer Cheng 
President, Autoliv China (ACH)
Employed 2006

Jordi Lombarte
Chief Technology Officer
Employed 1991

Brad Murray 
President, Autoliv Asia (AAS)
Employed 1987

Mats Backman
Chief Financial Officer
Employed 2016 

Mikael Bratt
President and CEO
Employed 2016

Anthony Nellis 
Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs 
General Counsel & Secretary
Employed 2002

Svante Mogefors 
Executive Vice President, Quality and  
acting Executive Vice President Operations 
Employed 1996

Dan Garceau 
President, Autoliv Americas (AAM)
Employed 1993

Sherry Vasa 
Executive Vice President 
Human Resources & Sustainability
Employed 1992

For more information, visit Corporate Governance and 
the proxy statement on www	autoliv	com

39

Contacts  
and Calendar

AUTOLIV, INC.
Visiting address:  
Klarabergsviadukten 70, Section B,  
7th Floor, Stockholm, Sweden   
Mail: P	O	 Box 70381, SE-107 24 Stockholm, Sweden  
Tel: +46 (0)8 587 20 600  
E-mail: info@autoliv	com  
www	autoliv	com

CONTACT OUR BOARD 
Autoliv, Inc	, c/o Vice President Legal Affairs
P	O	 Box 70381, SE-107 24 Stockholm, Sweden 
Tel: +46 (0)8 587 20 600 
Fax: +46 (0)8 587 20 633 
E-mail: legalaffairs@autoliv	com

The Board, the independent directors, and the committees 
of the Board can be contacted using the address above	  
Contact can be made anonymously and communication  
with the independent directors is not screened	 The relevant 
chairman receives all such communication after it has been 
determined that the content represents a message to such 
chairman	

STOCK TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 
www	computershare	com

INVESTOR REQUESTS
Autoliv, Inc	, P	O	 Box 70381, SE-107 24, Stockholm, Sweden 
Tel: +46 (0)8 587 20 671 
E-mail: anders	trapp@autoliv	com,  
henrik	kaar@autoliv	com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
Concept and Design: PCG Stockholm  
Photos: Lars Trangius, Christian Wyrwa, Dan Kullberg,  
Robert Casey and PlainPicture Ltd
3D images: Björn Nilsson, Graphic

2019 PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL  
CALENDAR DATE EVENT
April 26 Financial Report Q1 
May 7 Autoliv General Meeting, Chicago, IL, USA 
July 19 Financial Report Q2 
October 25 Financial Report Q3

40

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT P URSUANT TO S E CTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year end e d Decemb e r 31, 2018

Commission file nu m ber: 001- 12 9 33

AUTOLIV, INC.

(Exact name of registra n t as specified in its charter)

De l aware
(State or o t her j u risdiction of
incorporat i on or organiz a tion)

51-0378542
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification  No.)

Klara b erg s viadu k ten 70, Section B7, SE-111 64
Box 70381, SE-107 24
Stockholm, Sweden
(Address of pr i ncipal e xecutive offices)

+46 8 587 20 600
(Registran t ’s tel e phone n u mber, in c luding a rea c o de)

Securities regist e red pursuant to Section 12( b ) of the Act:

Title of each c lass:
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

Name of ea c h exc h a n ge on which regist e red:
New York Stock Excha n ge

Indi c ate by check mark if the r e gistrant is a well-known seasoned is s uer, as d e fined in Rule 405 of the Securities Ac t .   Yes   ☒
    N o   ☐
Ind i ca t e by check mark i f the registrant is not required t o f i le repor t s pursuant to S ection 13 or Sect i on 15(d) of t h e Ac t .    Yes   ☐
    N o   ☒

Ind i ca t e by check mark whether the registrant (1) has f i led all r e ports required to be filed by Sect i on 13 or 15(d) of t h e Sec u rities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for s uch shorter period that the registrant was requir e d to file s uch r eports); and (2) has been s ubject to s uch filing requirements for the past 90
days.    Yes:   ☒
    N o:    ☐

Ind i ca t e by check mark wheth e r the registrant has submi t ted e l ectronically every Interactive Da t a Fi l e requ i red t o be submitted pursuant t o Ru l e 405 of R e gu l a t
ion S-T (§ 232.405 of th i s chapter) d u ring the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes:    ☒
    N o:    ☐

Ind i ca t e by check mark i f discl o sure of del i nquent f i lers pursuant to I t em 405 of Reg u la t ion S-K (§229.405 of t h is chap t er) i s n o t contained here i n , and wi l l not
be contained, to the best of r e gistrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or informa t ion sta t eme n ts incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment
to this Form 10-K.    ☒

Indi c ate by check mark wheth e r the regis t rant is a large accelerated filer, an accele r ated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller r e porting company or an emerging growth
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smal l er reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Ru l e 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Emerging growth company

  ☒
  ☐
  ☐

   Accelerated filer

   Smaller reporting company

  ☐
  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial
accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
I nd i ca t e by check mark wheth e r the r e gistrant is a shell compa n y (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes:   ☐
    No :   ☒

The aggrega t e market value of the voting a nd non-vo t ing common equi t y of Auto l iv, Inc. he l d by non-aff i lia t es as of the l ast b u sine s s day of the second fiscal quar t
e r of 2018 amounted t o $8,989 m i ll i on.

Number of shares of Common Stock outs t and i ng as of February 13, 2019: 87,149,242.

D O CUMENTS INC O R P ORATED BY REFERENCE

Por t ions of the registrant’s defin i tive Proxy Stateme n t for t h e annual s t ockholders’ meeting to be he l d on May 7, 2019, to be da t e d on or around March 27, 2019 (the
“20 1 9 Proxy Statement”), are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 1 0- K . T he 2019 P ro x y Statement will be filed w ith the Securities and
Excha n g e Comm i ss i o n w i th i n 12 0 d ay s a fter December 31, 2018.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Business
  Risk Factors
  Unresolved Staff Comments
  Properties
  Legal Proceedings
  Mine Safety D i sc l osu res

AUTOLIV, INC.

Index

PART I

PART II

  Market f or R e g istran t’ s Common Equi t y, Relat e d S tockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equi t y Securities
  Selected Financial Data
  Man agemen t’ s D i sc us s i on and A na lysis of Financial Condit i on and Results of Operations
  Quant i tativ e and Qua l ita t ive Disc l o sures about Market Ri s k
  Financial S t atements and Supplementa r y Data
  Chan g es in and Dis a g reemen t s with Accou n tants on Accounti n g and Financia l Disclosure
  Controls and Procedures
  O t h er I n f or mati o n

Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.

Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.

Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.

  Directors, Executive Office r s and Corporate Governance
  Executive Compensation
  Securi t y Ownership of Cer t a i n Beneficia l Owners and Mana g ement and Related Stockholder Matters
  Certain Relationships and Related T r ansactions, and Director Independence
  Principal Accounti n g Fees and Services

PART I II

Item 15.

  Exhibi t s and F i nancia l Sta t ement Schedules

PART IV

1

3
9
22
22
25
25

26
28
29
50
52
96
96
96

97
97
97
97
97

98

 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  contains  statements  that  are  not  historical  facts  but  rather  forward-looking  statements  within  the  meaning  of  the  Private
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995.  Such  forward-looking  statements  include  those  that  address  activities,  events  or  developments  that  Autoliv,  Inc.
(“Autoliv,” the “Company” or “we”) or its management believes or anticipates may occur in the future. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current
expectations, various assumptions and/or data available from third parties. Our expectations and assumptions are expressed in good faith and we believe there
is  a  reasonable  basis  for  them.  However,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  such  forward-looking  statements  will materialize  or  prove  to  be  correct  as  forward-
looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual future results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,”
“may,” “likely,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements
contain such words.

Because  these  forward-looking  statements  involve  risks  and  uncertainties,  the  outcome  could  differ  materially  from  those  set  out  in  the  forward-looking
statements  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  including  without  limitation:  changes  in  light  vehicle  production;  fluctuation  in  vehicle  production  schedules  for  which  the
Company is a supplier; changes in general industry and market conditions or regional growth or decline; changes in and the successful execution of our capacity
alignment: restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and the market reaction thereto; loss of business from increased competition; higher raw material, fuel and
energy  costs;  changes  in  consumer  and  customer  preferences  for  end  products;  customer  losses;  changes  in  regulatory  conditions;  customer  bankruptcies;
consolidations or restructuring; or divestiture of customer brands; unfavorable fluctuations in currencies or interest rates among the various jurisdictions in which
we operate; component shortages; market acceptance of our new products; costs or difficulties related to the integration of any new or acquired businesses and
technologies;  continued  uncertainty  in  pricing  negotiations  with  customers;  successful  integration  of  acquisitions  and  operations  of  joint  ventures;  successful
implementation  of  strategic  partnerships  and  collaborations;  our  ability  to  be  awarded  new  business;  product  liability,  warranty  and  recall  claims  and
investigations  and  other  litigation  and  customer  reactions  thereto  (including  the  resolution  of  the  Toyota  Recall);  higher  expenses  for  our  pension  and  other
postretirement benefits, including higher funding needs for our pension plans; work stoppages or other labor issues; possible adverse results of pending or future
litigation  or  infringement  claims;  our  ability  to  protect  our  intellectual  property  rights;  negative  impacts  of  antitrust  investigations  or  other  governmental
investigations and associated litigation relating to the conduct of our business; tax assessments by governmental authorities and changes in our effective tax
rate; dependence on key personnel; legislative or regulatory changes impacting or limiting our business; political conditions; dependence on and relationships
with  customers  and  suppliers;  and  other  risks  and  uncertainties  identified  in  Item  1A  -“Risk  Factors”  and  Item  7  -  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Form 10-K.

For any forward-looking statements contained in this or any other document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward- looking statements contained
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we assume no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements in light of new
information or future events, except as required by law.

2

 
 
 
 
Item 1. Business

General

PAR T I

Autoliv, Inc. (“Autoliv”, the “Company” or “we”) is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices in Stockholm, Sweden. Autoliv was created in 1997
from the merger of Autoliv AB and the automotive safety products business of Morton International, Inc. The Company functions as a holding corporation and
owns two principal subsidiaries, Autoliv AB and Autoliv ASP, Inc. Our fiscal year ends on December 31.

On June 29, 2018, Autoliv completed the spin-off of its former Electronics segment (the “spin-off”) through the distribution of all of the issued and outstanding
stock of Veoneer, Inc. The spin-off is described in more detail in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Business

Autoliv  is  a  leading  developer,  manufacturer  and  supplier  of  automotive  safety  systems  to  the  automotive  industry  with  a  broad  range  of  product  offerings,
primarily passive safety systems.

Passive  safety  systems  are  primarily  meant  to  improve  vehicle  safety.  Passive  safety  systems  include  modules  and  components  for  frontal-impact  airbag
protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, inflator technologies, battery cable cutters, pedestrian protection systems
and child seats.

Including  joint  venture  operations,  Autoliv  has  approximately  64  production  facilities  in  25  countries  and  its  customers  include  the  world’s  largest  car
manufacturers. Autoliv’s sales in 2018 were 8.7 billion, approximately 66% of which consisted of airbag and steering wheel products and approximately 34% of
which consisted of seatbelt products. Our business is conducted in the following geographical regions, Europe, the Americas, China, Japan and the Rest of Asia
(ROA).

Autoliv’s head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden, where we currently employ approximately 70 people. At December 31, 2018, Autoliv had approximately
58,000 employees worldwide, and a total headcount, including 9,000 temporary personnel, of approximately 67,000.

Additional information required by this Item 1 regarding developments in the Company’s business during 2018 is contained under Item 7 in this Annual Report.

Financial Information on Segments

Upon completion of the spin-off, Autoliv concluded at June 30, 2018 that it has one reportable segment based on the way the Company evaluates its financial
performance and manages its operations. Prior to the completion of the Spin-off, the Company had two reportable segments, Electronics and Passive Safety.
The Company’s single operating segment includes the Company’s airbag (including steering wheels), seatbelt products and components. For financial reporting
purposes,  the  single  operating  segment  is  also  the  Company’s  single  reportable  segment  in  accordance  with  Accounting  Standards  Codification  (ASC)  280
Segment Reporting. The financial data relating to Autoliv’s businesses in this segment over the last three fiscal years is contained in the Consolidated Financial
Statements  of  this  Annual  Report.  A  statement  of  net  sales  by  product  group  and  region  for  the  last  three  years  is  contained  in  Note  22  to  the  Consolidated
Financial Statements of this Annual Report.

Products, Market and Competition

Products

Saving  more  lives  on  the  road  is  a  key  health  priority  as  our  world  grows  and  develops.  However,  population  expansion  in  growth  markets  and  the  rise  of
megacities creates new complexities. To meet this challenge, we develop automotive safety solutions that work in real life situations.

Our safety systems such as seatbelts and airbags substantially mitigate human consequences of traffic accidents.

The airbag module is designed to inflate extremely rapidly then quickly deflate during a collision or impact. It consists of the container, airbag cushion and an
inflator. The purpose of the airbag is to provide the occupants a cushioning and restraint during a crash event to prevent any impact or impact-caused injuries
between the occupant and the interior of the vehicle.

Seatbelts can reduce the overall risk of serious injuries in frontal crashes by as much as 60% thanks to advanced seatbelt technologies such as pretensioners
and load limiters.

Autoliv also manufactures steering wheels which are crafted to ensure they meet safety requirements and are functional as well as stylish.

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Market and Competition

Consumer research clearly shows that people want safe cars, and several significant trends are likely to have a positive influence on overall safety content per
vehicle. These include:

1) Society becoming increasingly focused on Vision Zero, which includes a goal of reducing traffic fatalities and their associated costs,

2) Demographic trends of increased urbanization, aging driver populations and increased safety focus in the Growth Markets, and

3) Evolving government regulations and test rating systems to improve the safety of vehicles in various markets, such as the updated Euro NCAP, China NCAP
and USNCAP.

The automotive safety market is driven by two primary factors: light vehicle production (LVP) and content per vehicle (CPV).

The first growth driver, LVP, has increased at an average annual growth rate of around 2.6% since the incorporation of Autoliv Inc. in 1997 despite the cyclical
nature of the automotive industry. LVP is expected to grow to close to 97 million in 2021 from approximately 91 million in 2018, according to IHS. Almost all of
this expansion will be in the Growth Markets, predominantly in China, India, Southeast Asia and South America.

Unlike LVP, where Autoliv can only aim to be on the best-selling platforms, Autoliv can influence CPV more directly by continuously developing and introducing
new technologies with higher value-added features. Over the long term, this increases average safety CPV and has caused our markets to grow faster than the
LVP.

Since the start of Autoliv, Inc. in 1997, the Company’s sales compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for passive safety has been 5.6% compared to the market
rate of around 3% which includes an LVP growth of around 2.6%. Our outperformance is a result of a steady flow of new passive safety technologies, strong
focus  on  quality  and  a  superior  global  footprint  both  in  products  and  engineering.  This  has  enabled  Autoliv  to  increase  its market  share  from  27%  in 1997  to
around 40% in 2018.

In the Developed Markets (Western Europe, North America, Japan and South Korea) the CPV is around $280. CPV growth in these regions will mainly come
from new safety systems such as active seatbelts, knee airbags, front-center airbags along with improved protection for pedestrians and rear-seat occupants like
bag-in-belt.

In our Growth Markets, we see great opportunities for CPV growth from more airbags and advanced seatbelt products. Average CPV in our Growth Markets is
around $170, approximately $110 less than in the Developed Markets.

Despite  a  negative  LVP  mix  effect  from  higher  growth  in  low  CPV  markets,  the  passive  safety  market  (seatbelts  and  airbags,  including  steering  wheels),  is
expected  to  grow  at  a  CAGR  of  4%  until  2021  to  about  $23  billion,  based  on  the  current  macro-economic  outlook  and  our  internal  market  intelligence  and
estimates. The highest growth rate is expected in steering wheels, where Autoliv has a global market share of more than 30%, generated by the trend toward
higher-value steering wheels with leather and additional features.

The Growth Markets are expected to outgrow the Developed Markets substantially for the period between 2018 and 2021, as the Growth Markets are supported
by a higher LVP and increasing CPV resulting from higher penetration of airbags and more advanced seatbelt products.

In seatbelts, Autoliv has reached a global market share of around 40%, primarily due to being the technology leader with several important innovations such as
pretensioners  and  active  seatbelts.  Our  strong  market  position  is  also  a  reflection  of  our  superior  global  footprint.  Seatbelts  are  the  primary  life-saving  safety
product  and  are also an  important  requirement  in low-end  vehicles for  the  Growth  Markets.  This provides  us  with an excellent  opportunity  to benefit  from the
expected growth in this segment of the market.

The market for airbags, where Autoliv has a market share of around 40%, is expected to grow slightly slower than the total passive safety market. This is related
to the dilutive effect from new low-end vehicles in the Growth Markets, with relatively low installation rates for airbags.

Our competitors

Autoliv is the clear market leader with an estimated global market share of around 40%. Our major competitors have traditionally been Takata and ZF.

During 2017, Takata, a family-controlled Japanese company whose shares were listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S.
and Japan. The bankruptcy came after an accumulation of recall costs and liabilities related to malfunctioning airbag inflators. U.S.-based Key Safety Systems
(KSS),  owned  by  Chinese  company  Joyson,  subsequently  acquired  Takata’s  assets  in  April  2018  for  approximately  $1.6  billion.  The  new  company  is  named
Joyson Safety Systems (JSS). JSS is estimated to hold a global market share of 24%, including Joyson’s Chinese subsidiary YFK.

ZF is a global leader in driveline and chassis technology, as well as in passive safety technologies, and is one of the largest global automotive suppliers and has
an estimated global market share of 17%.

4

 
 
In  Japan,  Brazil,  South  Korea  and  China  there  are  a  number  of  local  supplier  s  that  have  close  ties  with  the  domestic  vehicle  manufacturers.  For  example,
Toyota uses “keiretsu” (in-house) suppliers Tokai Rika for seatbelts and Toyoda Gosei for airbags and steering wheels. These suppliers generally receive most
of the Toyota busines s in Japan, in the same way, Mobis, a major supplier to Hyundai/Kia in South Korea , generally receives a significant part of their business.

Other  competitors  include  Nihon  Plast  and  Ashimori  of  Japan,  Jinheng  of  China,  Samsong  in  South  Korea  and  Chris  in  South  America.  Collectively,  these
competitors account for the majority of the remaining 19% global market share in passive safety.

Additional information concerning our products, markets and competition is included in the “Risks and Risk Management” section under Item 7 of this Annual
Report.

Manufacturing and Production

Including joint venture operations, Autoliv has 64 production facilities located in 25 countries, consisting of both component factories and assembly factories. See
“Item  2.  Properties”  for  a  description  of  Autoliv’s  principal  properties.  The  component  factories  manufacture  inflators,  propellant,  initiators,  textile  cushions,
webbing, pressed steel parts, springs and overmoulded steel parts used in seatbelt and airbag assembly and steering wheels. The assembly factories source
components  from  a  number  of  parties,  including  Autoliv’s  own  component  factories,  and  assemble  complete  restraint  systems  for  “just-in-time”  delivery  to
customers.  The  products  manufactured  by  Autoliv’s  consolidated  subsidiaries  in  2018  consisted  of  approximately  151  million  complete  seatbelt  systems  (of
which approximately 79 million were fitted with pretensioners), approximately 99 million side airbags (including curtain airbags), approximately 56 million frontal
airbag and approximately 20 million steering wheels.

Autoliv’s “just-in-time” delivery systems have been designed to accommodate the specific requirements of each customer for low levels of inventory and rapid
stock delivery service. “Just-in-time” deliveries require final assembly or, at least, distribution centers in geographic areas close to customers to facilitate rapid
delivery.  The  fact  that  the  major  automobile  manufacturers  are  continually  expanding  their  production  activities  into  more  countries  and  require  the  same  or
similar safety systems as those produced in Europe, Japan or the U.S. increases the importance for suppliers to have assembly capacity in several countries.
Consolidation among our customers also supports this trend.

Autoliv’s  assembly  operations  generally  are  not  constrained  by  capacity  considerations  unless  there  is  a  disruption  in  the  supply  of  raw  materials  and
components. When dramatic shifts in LVP occur, Autoliv can generally adjust capacity in response to any changes in demand within a few days by adding or
removing work shifts and within a few months by adding or removing standardized production and assembly lines. Most of Autoliv’s assembly factories can make
sufficient  space  available  to  accommodate  additional  production  lines  to  satisfy  foreseeable  increases  in  capacity.  As  a  result,  Autoliv  can  usually  adjust  its
manufacturing capacity faster than its customers can adjust their capacity as a result of fluctuations in the general demand for vehicles or in the demand for a
specific vehicle model, provided that customers promptly notify Autoliv when they become aware of such changes in demand.

When dramatic shifts in LVP occur or when there is a shift in regional LVP, the capacity adjustments can take more time and be more costly. Additionally, when
there  is  a  significant  demand  for  a  given  product  due  to  a  major  recall  of  a  competitor’s  product,  like  certain  of  our  customers  have  experienced,  capacity
adjustments may take time.

We  could  experience  disruption  in  our  supply  or  delivery  chain,  which  could  cause  one  or  more  of  our  customers  to  halt  or  delay  production.  For  more
information, see Item 1A – “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report.

Quality Management

Autoliv  believes  that  superior  quality  is  a  prerequisite  to  being  considered  a  leading  global  supplier  of  automotive  safety  systems  and  is  key  to  our  financial
performance,  because  quality  excellence  is  critical  for  winning  new  orders,  preventing  recalls  and  maintaining  low  scrap  rates.  Autoliv  has  for  many  years
emphasized a “zero-defect” proactive quality policy and continues to strive to improve its working methods. This means both that Autoliv’s products are expected
to always meet performance expectations, and that Autoliv’s products are expected to be delivered to its customers at the right times and in the right amounts.
Furthermore, we believe our continued quality improvements further enhance our reputation among our customers, employees and governmental authorities.

Although  quality  has  always  been  paramount  in  the  automotive  industry,  especially  for  safety  products,  automobile  manufacturers  have  become  increasingly
focused on quality with even less tolerance for any deviations. This intensified focus on quality is partially due to an increase in the number of vehicle recalls for a
variety of reasons (not just safety), including a few high-profile vehicle recalls. This trend is likely to continue as automobile manufacturers introduce even stricter
quality requirements and regulating agencies and other authorities increase the level of scrutiny given to vehicle safety issues. We have not been immune to the
recalls that have been impacting the automotive industry.

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We continue to drive our quality initiative called “Q5” which was initiated in the summer of 2010. It is an integral part of our strategy of shaping a proactive quality
culture of zero defects. It is called “Q5” because it addresses quality in five dimensi ons: products, customers, growth, behavior and suppliers. The goal of Q5 is
to firmly tie together quality with value within all of our processes and for all of our employees, thereby leading to the best value for our customers. Since 2010,
we have continu ally expanded this quality initiative to provide additional skills training to more employees and suppliers. These activities have made a significant
contribution to the reduction in occurrences of non-conforming events.

In  our  pursuit  of  excellence  in  quality,  we  have  developed  a  chain  of  four  “defense  lines”  against  potential  quality  issues.  These  defense  lines  consist  of:  1)
robust product designs, 2) flawless components from suppliers and our own in-house component companies, 3) manufacturing flawless products with a system
for verifying that our products conform with specifications and 4) an advanced traceability system in the event of a recall.

Our pursuit of excellence extends from the earliest phases of product development to the proper disposal of a product following many years of use in a vehicle.
Autoliv’s  comprehensive  Autoliv  Product  Development  System  includes  several  key  check  points  during  the  process  of  developing  new  products  that  are
designed to ensure that such products are well-built and have no hidden defects. Through this process, we work closely with our suppliers and customers to set
clear standards that help to ensure robust component design and lowest cost for function in order to proactively prevent problems and ensure we deliver only the
best designs to the market.

The  Autoliv  Production  System  (“APS”),  based  on  the  goals  of  improving  quality  and  efficiency,  is  at  the  core  of  Autoliv’s  manufacturing  philosophy.  APS
integrates  essential  quality  elements,  such  as  mistake  proofing,  statistical  process  control  and  operator  involvement,  into  the  manufacturing  processes  so  all
Autoliv  associates  are  aware  of  and  understand  the  critical  connection  between  themselves  and  our  lifesaving  products.  This  “zero-defect”  principle  extends
beyond Autoliv to the entire supplier base. All of our suppliers must accept the strict quality standards in the global Autoliv Supplier Manual, which defines our
quality  requirements  and  focuses  on  preventing  bad  parts  from  being  produced  by  our  suppliers  and  helps  eliminate  defective  intermediate  products  in  our
assembly  lines  as  early  as  possible.  In  addition,  Autoliv’s  One  Product  One  Process  (“1P1P”)  initiative  is  our  strategy  for  developing  and  managing
standardization  of  both  core  products  and  customer-specific  features,  leading  not  only  to  improved  quality,  but  also  greater  cost  efficiency  and  more  efficient
supply chain management.

IATF  16949:2016  is  the  most  rigorous  global  automotive  quality  requirements  and  all  our  facilities  shipping  to  OEMs  are  regularly  certified  according  to  IAFT
standards.

Environmental and Safety Regulations

For  information  on  how  environmental  and  safety  regulations  impact  our  business,  see  “Risk  Factors  –  ‘Our  business  may  be  adversely  affected  by  laws  or
regulations,  including  environmental,  occupational  health  and  safety  or  other  governmental  regulations’  and  ‘Our  business  may  be  adversely  affected  by
changes in automotive safety regulations or concerns that drive further regulation of the automobile safety market’” in Item 1A and “Risks and Risk Management”
in Item 7 of this Annual Report.

Raw Materials

Approximately 5 0 % of our revenues are spent on material purchased directly from external suppliers. Autoliv mainly purchases manufactured components and
raw  materials  for  the  operations  .  We  take  several  actions  to  mitigate  higher  raw  material  prices,  such  as  competitive  sourcing  and  looking  for  alternative
materials.

For information on the sources and availability of raw materials, see “Risk Factors – Changes in the source., cost, availability of and regulations pertaining to raw
materials and components may adversely affect our profit margins” in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

Intellectual Property

We have developed a considerable amount of proprietary technology related to automotive safety systems and rely on many patents to protect such technology.
Our  intellectual  property  plays  an  important  role  in  maintaining  our  competitive  position  in  a  number  of  the  markets  we  serve.  For  information  on  our  use  of
intellectual  property  and  its  importance  to  us,  see  “Risk  Factors  –  If  our  patents  are  declared  invalid  or  our  technology  infringes  on  the  proprietary  rights  of
others, our ability to compete may be impaired” in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

Seasonality and Backlog

Autoliv’s business is not subject to significant seasonal fluctuations. Autoliv has frame contracts with automobile manufacturers and such contracts are typically
entered into up to three years before the start of production of the relevant car model or platform and provide for a term covering the life of such car model or
platform including service parts after a vehicle model is no longer produced. However, typically these contracts do not provide minimum quantities, firm prices or
exclusivity but instead permit the automobile manufacturer to resource the relevant products at given intervals (or at any time) from other suppliers.

6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dependence on Customers

In  2018  our  top  five  customers  represented  around  50%  of  sales  and  the  ten  largest  customers  represented  around  79%.  This  reflects  the  concentration  of
manufacturers in the automotive industry. The five largest OEMs in 2018 accounted for 49% of global LVP and the ten largest OEMs for 74%. A delivery contract
is typically for the lifetime of a vehicle model, which is normally between 4 and 6 years depending on customer platform sourcing preferences and strategies.

Customer
Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi
VW
Hyundai/Kia
Ford
Honda
FCA
Toyota
Daimler
General Motors
BMW

1)

Source: IHS

CUSTOMER SALES TRENDS

% of Autoliv
Sales

% of Global
LVP 1)

15%  
10%  
8%  
8%  
8%  
8%  
7%  
6%  
4%  
4%  

11%
12%
8%
6%
6%
5%
11%
3%
7%
3%

Asian  vehicle  producers  have  steadily  become  increasingly  more  important  to  Autoliv,  and  now  represent  around  45%  of  global  sales  compared  to  35%  five
years ago. Of the Asian OEMs, the Japanese OEMs represent 32% of our sales compared to 24% in 2013. This reflects their increasing share of the global LVP
and our stronger market position based on our local presence in Japan. European OEMs accounted for 33% of sales in 2018, virtually unchanged since 2013.
The Detroit-3 now account for 19% of our global sales, down from 30% in 2013 this is in part due to GM’s divestiture of Opel and the lingering effects of new
business hold back in 2011 and 2012.

For  information  on  our  dependence  on  customers,  see  “Risk  Factors  –  Our  business  could  be  materially  and  adversely  affected  if  we  lost  any  of  our  largest
customers  or  if  they  were  unable  to  pay  their  invoices”  in  Item  1A  of  this  Annual  Report  and  Dependence  on  Customers  under  the  section  Risks  and  Risk
Management in Item 7 of this Annual Report and Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Research, Development and Engineering

No single customer project accounts for more than 2% of Autoliv’s total R,D&E spending during 2018. To fuel Autoliv’s product portfolio, additional expertise is
brought in-house via technology partnerships and licensing agreements.

Information on research, development and engineering is included under section “Risks and Risk Management” in Item 7 of this Annual Report.

Regulatory Costs

The fitting of seatbelts in most types of motor vehicles is mandatory in almost all countries and many countries have strict laws regarding the use of seatbelts
while in vehicles. In addition, most developed countries require that seats in intercity buses and commercial vehicles be fitted with seatbelts. In the U.S., federal
legislation  requires  frontal  airbags  on  the  driver-side  and  the  passenger-side  of  all  new  passenger  cars  and  in  all  new  light  vehicles,  which  are  defined  as
vehicles with an unloaded vehicle weight of approximately 7,700 pounds or less.

For information concerning the material effects on our business relating to our compliance with government safety regulations, see “Risk Factors – ‘Our business
may be adversely affected by laws or regulations, including environmental, occupational health and safety or other governmental regulations’ and ‘Our business
may be adversely affected by changes in automotive safety regulations or concerns that drive further regulation of the automobile safety market’” in Item 1A of
this Annual Report and in Item 7 under the section “Risks and Risk Management” of this Annual Report.

7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autoliv Personnel

As of December 31, 2018, Autoliv and its subsidiaries had approximately 58,000 employees and approximately 9,000 temporary personnel. Autoliv considers its
relationship  with  its  personnel  to  be  good.  While  there  have  been  a  small  number  of  minor  labor  disputes  during  the  year,  such  disputes  have  not  had  a
significant or lasting impact on our relationship with our employees, customer perception of our employee practices or our business results.

Major  unions  to  which  some  of  Autoliv’s  employees  belong  in  Europe  include:  IG  Metall  in  Germany;  Unite  the  union  in  the  United  Kingdom;  Confédération
Générale  des  Travailleurs  (CGT),  Confédération  Française  Démocratique  du  Travail  (CFDT),  Confédération  Française  de  l’Encadrement  Confédération
Générale  des  cadres,  Force  Ouvrière  (CFE-CGC)  and  Confédération  Française  des  Travailleurs  Chrétiens  (CFTC)  and  Solidaires,  Unitaires,  Démocratiques
(SUD)  in  France;  Union  General  de  Trabajadores  (UGT),  Union  Sindical  Obrera  (USO),  Comisiones  Obereras  (CCOO)  and  Confederacion  General  de
Trabajadores  (CGT)  in  Spain;  If  Metall,  Unionen,  Sveriges  Ingenjörer  and  Ledarna  in  Sweden;  Industriaal-  ja  Metallitöötajate  Ametiühingute  Liit  (IMTAL)  in
Estonia;  Vasas  Szakszervezeti  Szövetség  (Hungarian  Metallworkers‘  Federation)  in  Hungary,  Samorządny  NiezaleĪny  Związek  Zawodowy  Pracowników  and
Zakáadowa  Organizacja  Związkowa  NSZZ  SolidarnoĞü  in  Poland,  Union  Générale  des  Travailleurs  Tunisiens  (UGTT)  and  Union  des  travailleurs  Tunisiens
(UTT) in Tunisia; and Türk Metal Sendikasi in Turkey.

In addition, Autoliv’s employees in other regions are represented by the following unions: Unifor and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers  (IAM)  in  Canada;  Sindicato  de  Jornaleros  y  Obreros  Industriales  y  de  la  Industria  Maquiladora;  Sindicato  Nacional  de  Trabajadores  de  la  Industria
Metalúrgica y Similares (CTM); Sindicato Industrial de Trabajadores de la Pequeña y Mediana Industria, Talleres, Maquiladoras, Negociaciones Mercantiles y
Comercios, Similares, Anexos y Conexos del Estado de Querétaro (CTM); “Nueva Cultura Laboral” “de trabajadores de la fabricación, manufactura, ensamble
de  partes  y componentes  de  la industria  Automotriz  de la  Republica Mexicana”  in Mexico;  Sindicato  dos  Metalúrgicos  de Taubaté  e Região  in Brazil;  Autoliv
India  Employees  Association,  Bangalore  in  India;  the  Korean  Metal  Workers  Union  (FKTU)  in  Korea;  Autoliv  Japan  Roudou  Kumiai  in  Japan  and  Federasi
Perjuangan Buruh Indonesia (FPBI) in Indonesia.

In  many  European  countries,  Canada,  Mexico,  Brazil  and  Korea,  wages,  salaries  and  general  working  conditions  are  negotiated  with  local  unions  and/or  are
subject to centrally negotiated collective bargaining agreements. The terms of our various agreements with unions typically range between 1-3 years. Some of
our subsidiaries in Europe, Canada, Brazil and Korea must negotiate with the applicable local unions with respect to important changes in operations, working
and  employment  conditions.  Twice  a  year,  members  of  the  Company’s  management  conduct  a  meeting  with  the  European  Works  Council  (EWC)  to  provide
employee representatives with important information about the Company and a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions.

In many Asia Pacific countries, the central or regional governments provide guidance each year for salary adjustments or statutory minimum wage for workers.

Autoliv’s  employees  may  join  associations  in  accordance  with  local  legislation  and  rules,  although  the  level  of  unionization  varies  significantly  throughout  our
operations.

For more information concerning Autoliv’s personnel, see Item 7 of this Annual Report.

Joint Ventures

Historically,  Autoliv  established  joint  ventures  to  promote  its  geographical  expansion  and  technology  development  and  to  gain  assistance  in  marketing  its  full
product  line  to  automobile  manufacturers.  While  joint  ventures  are  of  less  importance  to  our  overall  business  today  than  in  the  past,  joint  ventures  remain  a
potential business model in our strategy.

For information on how the joint ventures are accounted for, including Autoliv’s percentage of ownership, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of
this Annual Report.

Available information

We  file  or  furnish  with  the  United  States  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  “SEC”)  periodic  reports  and  amendments  thereto,  which  include  annual
reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information. Such reports, amendments, proxy
statements  and  other  information  are  made  available  free  of  charge  on  our  corporate  website  at  www.autoliv.com  and  are  available  as  soon  as  reasonably
practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, committee charters, code of conduct and other documents
governing  the  Company  are  also  available  on  our  corporate  website  at  www.autoliv.com  .  The  SEC  maintains  an  internet  site  that  contains  reports,  proxy
statements  and  other  information  at  www.sec.gov .  Hard  copies  of  the  above-mentioned  documents  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge  from  the  Company  by
contacting  us  at:  Autoliv,  Inc.,  P.O.  Box  70381,  SE-107  24,  Stockholm,  Sweden  or  Autoliv,  Inc.,  c/o  Autoliv  Electronics  America,  26545  American  Drive,
Southfield, MI 48034.

8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1A. Ri sk Factors

Our  business,  financial  condition,  operating  results  and  cash  flows  may  be  impacted  by  a  number  of  factors.  A  discussion  of  the  risks  associated  with  these
factors is included below.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDUSTRY

The cyclical nature of automotive sales and production can adversely affect our business. Our business is directly related to light vehicle production
(“LVP”) in the global market and by our customers, and automotive sales and LVP are the most important drivers for our sales

Automotive sales and production are highly cyclical and can be affected by general or regional economic or industry conditions, the level of consumer demand,
recalls  and  other  safety  issues,  labor  relations  issues,  technological  changes,  fuel  prices  and  availability,  vehicle  safety  regulations  and  other  regulatory
requirements,  governmental  initiatives,  trade  agreements,  political  volatility,  especially  in  energy  producing  countries  and  growth  markets,  changes  in  interest
rate  levels and  credit availability and  other  factors.  Some  regions  around  the  world may  at various times  be more particularly  impacted  by these  factors  than
other regions. Economic declines that result in a significant reduction in automotive sales and production by our customers have in the past had, and may in the
future have, a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our sales are also affected by inventory levels of our customers. We cannot predict when our customers will decide to either increase or reduce inventory levels
or  whether  new  inventory  levels  will  approximate  historical  inventory  levels.  This  may  exacerbate  variability  in  our  sales  and  financial  condition.  Uncertainty
regarding inventory levels may be exacerbated by consumer financing programs initiated or terminated by our customers or governments as such changes may
affect the timing of their sales.

Changes  in  automotive  sales  and  LVP  and/or  customers’  inventory  levels  will  have  an  impact  on  our  earnings  guidance  and  estimates  and  any  significant
reduction in automotive sales and/or LVP by our customers, whether due to general economic conditions or any other factors relevant to sales or LVP, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Growth rates in safety content per vehicle, which can be impacted by changes in consumer trends and political decisions, could affect our results in
the future

The average global content of passive safety systems per light vehicle grew slightly   during the period 2016-2018 to around $225. Vehicles produced in different
markets  may  have  various  passive  safety  content  values.  For  example,  in  developed  markets  such  as  Western  Europe  and  North  America,  the  premium
segment  have  passive  safety  content  values  of more  than  $300  per vehicle,  whereas  in growth  markets  such  as China  and  India  the  average  passive  safety
content  per  vehicle  is  approximately  $180  and  $80,  respectively.  Due  to  the  majority  of  the  growth  in  global  LVP  being  concentrated  in  growth  markets  the
operating results may be impacted if the passive safety content per vehicle remains low and if the penetration of more advanced automotive safety systems does
not increase in these regions. As passive safety content per vehicle is also an indicator of our sales development, should these trends continue, the average
value of passive safety systems per vehicle could decline.

We operate in a highly competitive market

The market for occupant restraint systems is highly competitive and continues to consolidate. We compete with a number of other companies that produce and
sell  similar  products.  Among  other  factors,  our  products  compete  on  the  basis  of  price,  quality,  manufacturing  and  distribution  capability,  design  and
performance, technological innovation, delivery and service. Some of our competitors are subsidiaries (or divisions, units or similar) of companies that are larger
and  have  greater  financial  and  other  resources  than  us.  Some  of  our  competitors  may  also  have  a  “preferred  status”  as  a  result  of  special  relationships  or
ownership interests with certain customers. Our ability to compete successfully depends, in large part, on our success in continuing to innovate and manufacture
products that have commercial success with consumers, differentiating our products from those of our competitors, continuing to deliver quality products in the
time frames required by our customers, and maintaining best-cost production.

We  continue  to  invest  in  technology  and  innovation  which  we  believe  will  be  critical  to  our  long-term  growth.  Our  ability  to  maintain  and  improve  existing
products,  while successfully  developing  and  introducing  distinctive  new and  enhanced  products  that  anticipate  changing  customer  and  consumer  preferences
and capitalize upon emerging technologies will be a significant factor in our ability to remain competitive. If we are unsuccessful or are less successful than our
competitors in predicting the course of market development, developing innovative products, processes, and/or use of materials or adapting to new technologies
or evolving regulatory, industry or customer requirements, we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage. For example, the focus of the automotive industry
on the development of advanced driver assistance technologies, with the goal of developing and introducing autonomous vehicles, and increase in consumer
preferences  for  mobility  on  demand  services  may  create  demand  for  new  and  innovative  products  in  response  to  OEM  and  consumer  preferences  and  our
success  in  providing  such  products  will  be  critical  for  our  long-term  growth.  Similarly,  the  demand  for  our  products  historically  has  tracked  LVP  and  a  future
evolution  of  the  automotive  industry  to  autonomous  vehicles  and  mobility  on  demand  services  may  lead  to  a  future  reduction  in  annual  global  LVP.  Our
competitive environment continues to change, including because of recent acquisitions and divestitures by our existing competitors (including Delphi and Takata)
within recent years as well as increased competition from entrants outside the traditional automotive industry, creating uncertainty about the future competitive
landscape. The inability to compete successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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The  discontinuation,  lack  of  commercial  success,  or  loss  of  business  with  respect  to  a  particular  vehicle  model  for  which  we  are  a  significant
supplier could reduce our sales and harm our business

A number of our customer contracts generally require us to supply a customer’s annual requirements for a particular vehicle model and assembly facilities, rather
than for manufacturing a specific quantity of products. Such contracts range from one year to the life of the model, which is generally four to seven years. These
contracts are often subject to renegotiation, sometimes as frequent as on an annual basis, which may affect product pricing, and generally may be terminated by
our customers at any time. Therefore, the discontinuation of, the loss of business with respect to, or a lack of commercial success of a particular vehicle model or
brand for which we are a significant supplier could reduce our sales and harm our business prospects, operating results, cash flows, or financial condition.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

We may incur material losses and costs as a result of product liability, warranty and recall claims that may be brought against us or our customers

We face risks related to product liability claims, warranty claims and recalls in the event that any of our products actually or allegedly are defective, fail to perform
as  expected  or  the  use  of  our  products  results,  or  is alleged  to  result,  in bodily  injury  and/or  property  damage.  For  example,  we  are  cooperating  with Toyota
Motor Corp. with respect to its voluntary safety recall of approximately 1.4 million vehicles that are equipped with a certain model of our side curtain airbags (the
“Toyota Recall”). We may not be able to anticipate all of the possible performance or reliability problems that could arise with our products after they are released
to the market. Additionally, increasing regulation and reporting requirements regarding potentially defective products, particularly in the U.S., may increase the
possibility that we become involved in additional product liability or recall investigations or claims. See – “Our business may be adversely affected by changes in
automotive safety regulations or concerns that drive further regulation of the automobile safety market”. Although we currently carry product liability and product
recall  insurance,  no  assurance  can  be  made  that  such  insurance  will  provide  adequate  coverage  against  potential  claims,  such  insurance  is  available  or  will
continue to be available in the appropriate markets or that we will be able to obtain such insurance on acceptable terms in the future. Although we have invested
and will continue to invest in our engineering, design, and quality infrastructure, we cannot give any assurance that our products will not suffer from defects or
other  deficiencies  or  that  we  will  not  experience  material  warranty  claims  or  additional  product  recalls.  In  the  future,  we  could  experience  additional  material
warranty or product liability losses and incur significant costs to process and defend these claims.

The Toyota Recall and any additional future recalls from this customer or other customers could result in costs not covered by insurance, further government
inquiries, litigation and reputational harm and could divert management’s attention away from other matters. The main variables affecting the costs of a recall are
the  number  of  vehicles  ultimately  determined  to  be  affected  by  the  issue,  the  cost  per  vehicle  associated  with  a  recall,  the  determination  of  proportionate
responsibility  among  the  customer,  the  Company,  and  any  relevant  sub-suppliers,  and  actual  insurance  recoveries.  Every  vehicle  manufacturer  has  its  own
practices  regarding  product  recalls  and  other  product  liability  actions  relating  to  its  suppliers,  and  the  performance  and  remedial  requirements  vary  between
jurisdictions. Due to recent recall activity in the automotive industry, some vehicle manufactures  have become even more sensitive to product recall risks. As
suppliers  become  more  integrally  involved  in  the  vehicle  design  process  and  assume  more  of  the  vehicle  assembly  functions,  vehicle  manufacturers  are
increasingly looking to their suppliers for contribution when faced with recalls and product liability claims. Product recalls in our industry, even when they do not
involve  our  products,  can  harm  the  reputations  of  our  customers,  competitors,  and  us,  particularly  if  those  recalls  cause  consumers  to  question  the  safety  or
reliability of products similar to those we produce.

In addition, with global platforms and procedures, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly evaluating our quality performance on a global basis; any one or more
quality,  warranty  or  other  recall  issue(s)  (including  issues  affecting  few  units  and/or  having  a  small  financial  impact)  may  cause  a  vehicle  manufacturer  to
implement measures which may have a severe impact on our operations, such as a global, temporary or prolonged suspension of new orders. In addition, as our
products more frequently use global designs and are based on or utilize the same or similar parts, components or solutions, there is a risk that the number of
vehicles affected globally by a failure or defect will increase significantly with a corresponding increase in our costs. A warranty, recall or product liability claim
brought  against  us  in  excess  of  our  available  insurance  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business.  Vehicle  manufacturers  are  also  increasingly
requiring  their  outside  suppliers  to  guarantee  or  warrant  their  products  and  bear  the  costs  of  repair  and  replacement  of  such  products  under  new  vehicle
warranties.  A  vehicle  manufacturer  may  attempt  to  hold  us  responsible  for  some  or  the  entire  repair  or  replacement  costs  of  defective  products  under  new
vehicle  warranties,  when  the  product  supplied  did  not  perform  as  represented.  Accordingly,  the  future  costs  of  warranty  claims  by  our  customers  may  be
material.  However,  the  final  amounts  determined  to  be  due  related  to  these  matters  could  differ  materially  from  our  recorded  warranty  estimates  and  our
business prospects, operating results, cash flows or financial condition may be materially impacted as a result.

In addition, as we adopt new technology, we face an inherent risk of exposure to the claims of others that we have allegedly violated their intellectual property
rights. We cannot assure that we will not experience any material warranty, product liability or intellectual property claim losses in the future or that we will not
incur significant costs to defend such claims. See “If our patents are declared invalid or our technology infringes on the proprietary rights of others, our ability to
compete may be impaired”.

Escalating pricing pressures from our customers may adversely affect our business

The  automotive  industry  continues  to  experience  aggressive  pricing  pressure  from  customers.  This  trend  is  partly  attributable  to  the  major  automobile
manufacturers’  strong  purchasing  power.  As  with  other  automotive  component  manufacturers,  we  are  often  expected  to  quote  fixed  prices  or  are  forced  to
accept prices with annual price reduction commitments for long-term sales arrangements or discounted reimbursements for engineering work. Price reductions
have impacted our sales and profit margins and are expected to continue to do so in the future. Our future profitability will depend upon, among other things, our
ability to continuously reduce our cost per unit and maintain our cost structure, enabling us to remain cost-competitive.

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Our profitability is also influenced by our success in designing and marketing technological improvements in automotive  safety systems, which helps us offset
price  reductions  by  our  customers.  If  we  ar  e  unable  to  offset  continued  price  reductions  through improved  operating  efficiencies  and  reduced  expenditures,
these price reductions may have a material adverse effect on our business prospects , operating results , cash flows or financial condition.

We could experience disruption in our supply or delivery chain, which could cause one or more of our customers to halt or delay production

We, as with other component manufactures in the automotive industry, ship our products to customer vehicle assembly facilities throughout the world on a “just-
in-time” basis in order  for  our customers  to maintain  low inventory  levels. Our  suppliers (external  suppliers as well as our own  production  sites) use a similar
method  in  providing  raw  materials  to  us.  However,  this  “just-in-time”  method  makes  the  logistics  supply  chain  in  our  industry  very  complex  and  vulnerable  to
disruption.

Disruptions in  our supply chain may result for many reasons, including closures of one of our own or one of our suppliers’ facilities or critical manufacturing lines
due to strikes or other labor disputes, mechanical failures, electrical outages, fires, explosions, critical pollution levels, critical health and safety and other working
conditions issues, natural disasters political upheaval, as well as logistical complications due to labor disruptions, weather or natural disasters, acts of terrorism,
mechanical failures and legislation or regulation regarding the transport of hazardous goods. Additionally, we may experience disruptions if there are delays in
customs processing, including if we are unable to obtain government authorization to export or import certain materials, including materials that may be viewed
as  dangerous  such  as  the  propellant  used  for  our  inflators.  As  we  continue  to  expand  in  growth  markets,  the  risk  of  such  disruptions  is  heightened.  The
unavailability of even a single small subcomponent necessary to manufacture one of our products, for whatever reason, could force us to cease production of
that  product,  possibly  for  a  prolonged  period.  Similarly,  a  potential  quality  issue  could  force  us  to  halt  deliveries  while  we  validate  the  products.  Even  where
products are ready to be shipped, or have been shipped, delays may arise before they reach our customer. Also, similar difficulties for other suppliers may force
our customers to halt production, which may in turn impact our sales shipments to such customers.

When we fail to timely deliver, we may have to absorb our own costs for identifying and resolving the ultimate problem as well as expeditiously producing and
shipping replacement components or products. Generally, we must also carry the costs associated with “catching up,” such as overtime and premium freight.

If we are the cause of a customer being forced to halt production, the customer may seek to recoup all of its losses and expenses from us. These losses and
expenses could be very significant and may include consequential losses such as lost profits. Where a customer halts production because of another supplier
failing to deliver on time, we may not be fully compensated, if at all.

Thus,  any  such  supply  chain  disruptions  could  severely  impact  our  operations  and/or  those  of  our  customers  and  force  us  to  halt  production  for  prolonged
periods of time which could expose us to material claims for compensation and have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, operating results, or
financial condition.

Adverse developments affecting one or more of our major suppliers could harm our profitability

Any significant disruption in our supplier relationships, particularly relationships with single-source suppliers, could harm our profitability. Furthermore, some of
our suppliers may not be able to sufficiently manage the currency commodity cost volatility and/or sharply changing volumes while still performing as we expect.
For example, recalls or field actions from our customers can stress the capacity of our supply chain and may inhibit our ability to timely deliver order volumes.
Over time, more of our suppliers are located in growth markets. As such, there is an increased risk for delivery delays, production delays, production issues or
delivery of non-conforming products by our suppliers. Even where these risks do not materialize, we may incur costs as we try to make contingency plans for
such risks.

Changes in the source, cost, availability of and regulations pertaining to raw materials and components may adversely affect our profit margins

Our business uses a broad range of raw materials and components in the manufacture of our products, nearly all of which are generally available from a number
of qualified suppliers. Our industry may be affected from time to time by limited supplies or price fluctuations of certain key components and materials. Strong
worldwide  demand  for  certain  raw  materials  has  had  a  significant  impact  on  prices  and  short-term  availability  in  recent  years.  Such  price  increases  could
materially increase our operating costs and materially and adversely affect our profit margin, as direct material costs amounted to approximately 50% of our net
sales in 2018, of which approximately half is the raw material cost portion.

Commercial negotiations with our customers and suppliers may not always offset all of the adverse impact of higher raw material, energy and commodity costs.
Even where we are able to pass price increases along to our customer, there may be a lapse of time before we are able to do so such that we must absorb the
cost increase. In addition, no assurances can be given that the magnitude and duration of such cost increases or any future cost increases could not have a
larger adverse impact on our profitability and consolidated financial position than currently anticipated.

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The SEC requires companies that manufacture products containing certain minerals and their derivatives that are known as “conflict minerals”, originating from
the Democratic Republic of Congo or adjoining countries to diligence and report the source of such materials. There are significant resources associated with
complying with these requirements, including diligence efforts to determine the sources of conflict minerals used in our products and potential changes to our
processes or supplies as a co nsequence of such diligence efforts. As there may be only a limited number of suppliers able to offer certified “conflict free” conflict
minerals, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain necessary conflict free minerals from such suppliers in sufficient quantities or at competitive
prices. W e may face reputational challenges if we determine that certain of our products contain minerals not determined to be conflict free or if we are unable
to sufficiently verify the origins for all conflict minerals used in our products through the procedures we may implement. Accordingly, these rules may adversely
affect our business prospects, operating results, cash flows or financial condition.

Our business could be materially and adversely affected if we lost any of our largest customers or if they were unable to pay their invoices

We are dependent on a few large customers with strong purchasing power. This is the result of customer consolidation during the last few decades. In 2018, our
top five customers represented 50% of our consolidated sales. Our largest contract accounted for around 2% of our total fiscal 2018 sales and expires in 2025.
Although business with any given customer is typically split into several contracts (either on the basis of one contract per vehicle model or on a broader platform
basis), the loss of business from any of our major customers (whether by lower overall demand for vehicles, cancellation of existing contracts or the failure to
award us new business) could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Similarly, further consolidation of our
customers in the future could make us more reliant upon a smaller group of customers for a significant portion of our consolidated sales and negatively impact
our bargaining power when contracting with such customers.

Customers may put us on a “new business hold,” which would limit our ability to quote or be awarded all or part of their future vehicle contracts if quality or other
issues arise in the vehicles for which we were a supplier. Such new business holds range in length and scope and are generally accompanied by a certain set of
remedial conditions that must be met before we are eligible to bid for new business. Meeting any such conditions within the prescribed timeframe may require
additional Company resources. A failure to satisfy any such conditions may have a materially adverse impact on our financial results in the long term.

There is a risk that one or more of our major customers may be unable to pay our invoices as they become due or that a customer will simply refuse to make
such  payments  given  its  financial  difficulties.  If  a  major  customer  would  enter  into  bankruptcy  proceedings  or  similar  proceedings  whereby  contractual
commitments are subject to stay of execution and the possibility of legal or other modification, or if a major customer otherwise successfully procures protection
against us legally enforcing its obligations, it is likely, absent special relief such as having a “preferred status”, that we will be forced to record a substantial loss.

Additional information concerning our major customers is included in Note 22 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our inability to effectively manage the timing, quality and costs of new program launches could adversely affect our financial performance

To  compete  effectively  in  the  automotive  supply  industry,  we  must  be  able  to  launch  new  products  to  meet  our  customers’  timing,  performance  and  quality
standards.  At  times,  we  face  an  uneven  number  of  launches,  and  some  launches  for  various  reasons,  may  have  shortened  launch  lead  times.  We  cannot
provide assurance that we will be able to install and certify the equipment needed to produce products for new programs in time for the start of production, or
that the transitioning of our manufacturing facilities and resources to full production for such new programs will not impact production rates or other operational
efficiency  measures  at  our  facilities.  In  addition,  we  cannot  provide  assurance  that  our  customers  will  execute  on  schedule  the  launch  of  their  new  product
programs, for which we might supply products. Additionally, as a Tier 1 supplier, we must effectively coordinate the activities of numerous suppliers in order to
launch  programs  successfully.  Given  the  complexity  of  new  program  launches,  especially  involving  new  and  innovative  technologies,  we  may  experience
difficulties managing product quality, timeliness and associated costs. In addition, new program launches require a significant ramp up of costs; however, the
sales related to these new programs generally are dependent upon the timing and success of the introduction of new vehicles by the Company’s customers. Our
inability to effectively manage the timing, quality and costs of these new program launches could adversely affect our business prospects, operating results, cash
flows or financial condition.

Changes in our product mix may impact our financial performance

We sell products that have varying profit margins. Our financial performance can be impacted depending on the mix of products we sell during a given period.
Our earnings guidance and estimates assume a certain geographic sales mix as well as a product sales mix. If actual results vary significantly from this projected
geographic and product mix of sales, our operating results and financial condition could be negatively impacted.

We  are  involved  from  time  to  time  in  legal  proceedings  and  our  business  may  suffer  as  a  result  of  adverse  outcomes  of  current  or  future  legal
proceedings

We  are,  from  time  to  time,  involved  in  litigation,  regulatory  proceedings  and  commercial  or  contractual  disputes  that  may  be  significant.  These  matters  may
include, without limitation, disputes with our suppliers and customers, intellectual property claims, shareholder litigation, government investigations, class action
lawsuits,  personal  injury  claims,  environmental  issues,  antitrust,  customs  and  VAT  disputes  and  employment  and  tax  issues.  In  such  matters,  government
agencies or private parties may seek to recover from us very large, indeterminate amounts in penalties or monetary damages (including, in some cases, treble or
punitive damages) or seek to limit our operations in some

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way. The possibility exists that claims may be asserted against us and their ma gnitude may remain unknown for long periods of time. These types of lawsuits
could require significant management time and attention and a substantial legal liability or adverse regulatory outcome and the substantial expenses to defend
the litigation or re gulatory  proceedings  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  customer  relationships,  business  prospects,  reputation,  operating results,
cash flows and financial condition. No assurances can be given that such proceedings and claims will not have a materi al adverse impact on our profitability and
consolidated financial position or that our established reserves or our available insurance will mitigate such impact.

See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

We are currently undergoing an antitrust investigation by the European Commission and have accrued an amount regarding this investigation that
may not fully reflect the ultimate cost to resolve the EC’s investigation

The European Commission (“EC”) is engaged in a long-running investigation into possible anti-competitive behavior among certain suppliers to the automotive
vehicle industry, including Autoliv. From June 7 to June 9, 2011, representatives of the EC visited two facilities of Autoliv BV & Co KG, a Company subsidiary in
Germany, to gather information for such inquiry. Autoliv has been cooperating with the EC investigation. The EC previously concluded a discrete portion of its
investigation in November 2017 and imposed a fine on the Company. In December 2018, we accrued $210 million based on our belief that the EC will seek to
impose a fine in connection with the remaining portion of the EC’s investigation. The EC investigation requires significant management time and attention and
could,  in  addition  to  an  unfavorable  outcome,  result  in  significant  expenses.  Unfavorable  outcomes  from  the  EC  investigation  could  have  a  material  adverse
impact  on our customer  relationships,  business  prospects,  reputation,  operating  condition,  cash flows or financial  results,  and  our insurance may not  mitigate
such impact.

We may be subject to civil antitrust litigation civil antitrust litigation that could negatively impact our business

The Company may be subject to civil antitrust lawsuits in the future in countries that permit such civil claims, including lawsuits or other actions by our customers.
Specifically,  the  outcome  of  the  EC  investigation  could  also  result  in  subsequent  civil  disputes  with  non-governmental  third  parties  and  civil  or  stockholder
litigation stemming from the same facts and circumstances underlying the EC investigation.  These types of lawsuits require significant management time and
attention  and  could  result  in  significant  expenses  as  well  as  unfavorable  outcomes  that  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  customer  relationships,
business prospects, reputation, operating results, cash flows or financial condition, and our insurance may not mitigate such impact.

We  are,  and  have  been,  subject  to  investigations  by  other  competition  authorities  and  may  be  subject  to  investigations  by  additional  competition
authorities that could negatively impact our business

Competition  authorities  in Brazil, Canada,  South  Africa and South  Korea  have  previously initiated investigations  of  certain  suppliers to the  automotive  vehicle
industry,  including  Autoliv.  Competition  authorities  in  additional  countries  may  initiate  similar  investigations.  These  types  of  investigations  require  significant
management  time  and  attention.  These  investigations  could  also  result  in  significant  expenses  as  well  as  unfavorable  outcomes  that  could  have  a  material
adverse impact on our customer relationships, business prospects, reputation, operating results, cash flows or financial condition, and our available insurance
may not mitigate such impact.

We may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities

The  determination  of  our  worldwide  provision  for  income  taxes  and  other  tax  liabilities  requires  estimation  and  significant  judgment,  and  there  are  many
transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Like many other multinational corporations, we are subject to tax in multiple U.S.
and foreign tax jurisdictions. Our determination of our tax liability is always subject to audit and review by applicable domestic and foreign tax authorities, and we
are currently undergoing a number of investigations, audits and reviews by taxing authorities throughout the world. Any adverse outcome of any such audit or
review could have a negative effect on our business and the ultimate tax outcome may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and may
materially affect our financial results in the period or periods for which such determination is made. While we have established reserves based on assumptions
and estimates that we believe are reasonable to cover such eventualities, these reserves may prove to be insufficient. In addition, our future income taxes could
be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated (or by the incurrence of losses) in jurisdictions that have lower statutory tax rates and higher than
anticipated  in  jurisdictions  that  have  higher  statutory  tax  rates,  by  changes  in  the  valuation  of  our  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities,  or  changes  in  tax  laws,
regulations, or accounting principles, as well as certain discrete items.

Work stoppages or other labor issues at our customers’ facilities or at our facilities could adversely affect our operations

Because the automotive industry relies heavily on “just-in-time” delivery of components during the assembly and manufacture of vehicles, a work stoppage at
one  or  more  of  the  Company’s  facilities  could  have  material  adverse  effects  on  our  business.  Similarly,  if  any  of  our  customers  were  to  experience  a  work
stoppage, that customer may halt or limit the purchase of our products. Similarly, a work stoppage at another supplier could interrupt production at one of our
customers’ facilities which would have the same effect. While labor contract negotiations at our facilities historically have rarely resulted in work stoppages, no
assurances can be given that we will be able to negotiate acceptable contracts with these unions or that our failure to do so will not result in work stoppages. A
work stoppage at one or more of our facilities or our customers’ facilities could cause us to shut down production facilities supplying these products, which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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Our ability to operate our company effectively could be impaired if we fail to attract and retain executive officers and other key personnel

Our ability to operate our business and implement our strategies effectively depends, in part, on the efforts of our executive officers and other key employees. In
addition,  our  future  success  will  depend  on,  among  other  factors,  our  ability  to  attract  and  retain  other  qualified  personnel,  particularly  engineers  and  other
employees with software and technical expertise. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers or other key employees or the failure to attract or retain
other qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Restructuring initiatives and capacity alignments are complex and difficult and at any time additional restructuring steps may be necessary, possibly
on short notice and at significant cost

Our  restructuring  initiatives  and  capacity  alignments  include  efforts  to  adjust  our  manufacturing  capacity  and  cost  structure  to  meet  current  and  projected
operational and market requirements, including plant closures, transfer of sourcing to best cost countries, consolidation of our supplier base and standardization
of products,  to reduce  our overhead  costs and consolidate  our operational  centers.  The successful  implementation  of  our  restructuring  activities and  capacity
alignments  will  involve  sourcing,  logistics,  technology  and  employment  arrangements.  Because  these  restructuring  initiatives  and  capacity  alignments  can  be
complex,  there  may  be  difficulties  or  delays  in  the  implementation  of  any  such  initiatives  and  capacity  alignments  or  they  may  not  be  immediately  effective,
resulting in an adverse material impact on our performance. In addition, there is a risk that inflation, high-turnover rates and increased competition may reduce
the  efficiencies  now  available  in  best-cost  countries  to  levels  that  no  longer  allow  for  cost-beneficial  restructuring  opportunities.  Therefore,  there  can  be  no
assurances that any future restructurings or capacity alignments will be completed as planned or achieve the desired results.

A  prolonged  recession  and/or  a  downturn  in  our  industry  could  result  in  us  having  insufficient  funds  to  continue  our  operations  and  external
financing may not be available to us or available only on materially different terms than what has historically been available

Our  ability  to  generate  cash  from  our  operations  is  highly  dependent  on  automotive  sales  and  LVP,  the  global  economy  and  the  economies  of  our  important
markets. If LVP were to remain on low levels for an extended period of time, we would experience a significantly negative cash flow. Similarly, if cash losses for
customer defaults rise sharply, we would experience a negative cash flow. Such negative cash flow could result in our having insufficient funds to continue our
operations unless we can procure external financing, which may not be possible.

Our current  credit  rating  could  be  lowered as  a result of  us experiencing  significant  negative  cash flows,  increasing  our indebtedness  and  leverage,  or  a dire
financial outlook, which may affect our ability to procure financing. We may also for the same, or other reasons, find it difficult to secure new long-term credit
facilities, at reasonable terms, when our principal credit facility expires in 2022. Further, even our existing unutilized credit facilities may not be available to us as
agreed,  or only at additional cost, if participating  banks are unable to raise the necessary funds,  where, for instance, financial markets are not functioning  as
expected or one or more banks in our principal credit facility syndicate were to default. If external financing is unavailable to us when necessary, we may have
insufficient funds to continue our operations.

Information concerning our credit facilities and other financings are included in Item 7 in this Annual Report in the section headed “Treasury Activities” and in
Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Our indebtedness may harm our financial condition and results of operations

As of December 31, 2018, we have outstanding debt of $2.2 billion. We may incur additional debt for a variety of reasons. Although our significant credit facilities
and  debt  agreements  do  not  have  any  financial  covenants,  our  level  of  indebtedness  will  have  several  important  effects  on  our  future  operations,  including,
without limitation:

•

•

•

•

a portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the payment of any interest or could be used for amortization required with respect
to outstanding indebtedness;

increases  in  our  outstanding  indebtedness  and  leverage  will  increase  our  vulnerability  to  adverse  changes  in  general  economic  and  industry
conditions, as well as to competitive pressure;

depending  on  the  levels  of  our  outstanding  debt,  our  ability  to  obtain  additional  financing  for  working  capital,  acquisitions,  capital  expenditures,
general corporate and other purposes may be limited; and

potential future tightening of the availability of capital both from financial institutions and the debt markets may have an adverse effect on our ability
to access additional capital.

Governmental restrictions may impact our business adversely

Some of our customers are (or may be) owned by a governmental entity, receive various forms of governmental aid or support or are subject to governmental
influence  in  other  forms,  which  may  impact  us  as  a  supplier  to  these  customers.  As  a  result,  they  may  be  required  to  partner  with  local  entities  or  procure
components from local suppliers to achieve a specific local content or be subject to other restrictions regarding localized content or ownership. The nature and
form of any such restrictions or protections, whatever their basis, is very difficult to predict as is their potential impact. However, they are likely to be based on
political rather than economical or operational considerations and may materially impact our business.

14

 
 
 
 
Impairment charges relating to our assets, goodwill and other intangible assets could ad versely affect the Company’s financial performance

We periodically review the carrying value of our assets, goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment indicators. If one or more of our customers’ facilities
cease production or decrease their production volumes, the assets we carry related to our facilities serving such customers may decrease in value because we
may no longer be able to utilize or realize them as intended. Where such decreases are significant, such impairments may have a materially adverse impact on
our financial results.  We monitor the various factors that  impact the valuation of our goodwill and other intangible assets, including expected  future  cash flow
levels, global economic conditions, market price for our stock, and trends with our customers. Impairment of goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets may
result from, among other things, deterioration in our performance and especially the cash flow performance of these goodwill assets, adverse market conditions
and  adverse  changes  in  applicable  laws  or  regulations.  If  there  are  changes  in  these  circumstances  or  the  other  variables  associated  with  the  estimates,
judgments and assumptions relating to the valuation of goodwill, when assessing the valuation of our goodwill items, we may determine that it is appropriate to
write down a portion of our goodwill or intangible assets and record related non-cash impairment charges. In the event that we determine that we are required to
write-down  a  portion  of  our  goodwill  items  and  other  intangible  assets  and  thereby  record  related  non-cash  impairment  charges,  our  financial  condition  and
operating results would be adversely affected.

For additional information, see Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Significant Accounting
Policies and Critical Accounting Estimates – Goodwill and Intangibles”.

We face risks related to our defined benefit pension plans and employee benefit plans, including the need for additional funding as well as higher
costs and liabilities

Our  defined  benefit  pension  plans  or  employee  benefit  plans  may  require  additional  funding  or  give  rise  to  higher  related  costs  and  liabilities  which,  in  some
circumstances, could reach material amounts and negatively affect our operating results. We are required to make certain year-end assumptions regarding our
pension  plans.  Our  pension  obligations  are  dependent  on  several  factors,  including  factors  outside  our  control  such  as  changes  in  interest  rates,  the  market
performance of the diversified investments underlying the pension plans, actuarial data and adjustments and an increase in the minimum funding requirements
or  other  regulatory  changes  governing  the  plans.  Adverse  equity  market  conditions  and  volatility in the  credit  market  may have  an unfavorable  impact  on  the
value of our pension assets and our future estimated pension liabilities. Internal factors such as an adjustment to the level of benefits provided under the plans
may also lead to an increase in our pension liability. If these or other internal and external risks were to occur, alone or in combination, our required contributions
to the plans and the costs and net liabilities associated with the plans could increase substantially and have a material effect on our business.

Information concerning our benefit plans is included in Note 20 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

You should not anticipate or expect the payment of cash dividends on our common stock

Our dividend policy is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends upon a number of factors, including our earnings, financial condition, cash
and capital needs, indebtedness and leverage, and general economic or business conditions. Although we currently use dividends as a way to return value to
our stockholders, in the past our Board of Directors suspended our quarterly dividend after determining that a suspension was necessary in light of the decline in
global  LVP,  the  uncertainty  surrounding  the  recession  at  that  time  and  the  inherent  risk  of  customer  defaults.  While  we  have  since  resumed  the  payment  of
dividends on our common stock, in the future, there can be no assurance that the Board of Directors will continue to declare dividends.

Cybersecurity  incidents  could  disrupt  business  operations,  result  in  the  loss  of  critical  and  confidential  information,  and  adversely  impact  our
reputation and operating results

We rely extensively on information technology (“IT”) networks and systems, our global data centers and services provided over the internet to process, transmit
and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes or activities across our facilities worldwide. The secure operation of
our IT networks and systems and the proper processing and maintenance of this information are critical to our business operations. We have been, and likely will
continue to be, subject to cyber-attacks. To date we have seen no material impact on our business from these attacks or events. Although we seek to deploy
comprehensive security measures to prevent, detect, address and mitigate these threats, there has been an increased level of activity, and an associated level
of sophistication, in cyber-attacks against large multinational companies. The ever-evolving threats mean we and our third-party service providers and vendors
must continually evaluate and adapt our respective systems and processes and overall security environment, as well as those of any companies we acquire.
There is no guarantee that these measures will be adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches, system compromises or misuses of data.

Our  security  measures  may  be  breached  due  to  human  error,  system  malfunctions  or  attacks  from  uncoordinated  individuals  or  sophisticated  and  targeted
measures known as advanced persistent threats, directed at the Company, its products, its customers and/or its third-party service providers.

Disruptions and attacks on our IT systems or the systems of third parties storing our data could result in the misappropriation, loss, destruction or corruption of
our critical data and confidential or proprietary information, personal information of our employees, the leakage of our or our customers’ confidential information,
improper use of our systems and networks, production downtimes and both internal and external supply shortages, which could have an adverse effect on our
results of operations. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity incident include reputational damage, litigation with third parties, diminution in the
value  of  our  investment  in  research,  development  and  engineering,  diversion  of  the  attention  of  management  away  from  the  operation  of  our  business  and
increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness and results of operations. To the extent that
any disruption or security breach results in a misappropriation, loss, destruction or corruption of our customer’s information, it

15

 
cou ld affect our relationships with our customers , create significant expense for us to investigate and remediate damage, lead to claims against the Company
and ultimately harm our business. In addition, we may be required to incur significant costs to protec t against damage caused by these disruptions or security
breaches  in  the  future.  In  addition,  as  the  regulatory  environment  related  to  information  security,  data  collection  and  use,  and  privacy  becomes  increasingly
rigorous, with new and constantly changin g requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could result in additional costs.    Any
future significant compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, supplier or Company data, could
result in significant costs, lost sales, fines, lawsuits, and damage to our reputation.

Third parties that maintain certain of our confidential and proprietary information could experience a cybersecurity incident

We rely on third parties to provide or maintain some of our IT systems, data centers and related services and do not exercise direct control over these systems.
Despite  the  implementation  of  security  measures  at  third  party  locations,  these  IT  systems,  data  centers  and  cloud  services  are  also  vulnerable  to  security
breaches or other disruptions. Additionally, we and certain of our third-party vendors, collect and store personal information in connection with human resources
operations and other aspects of our business. While we obtain assurances that any third parties we provide data to will protect this information and, where we
believe  appropriate,  monitor  the  protections  employed  by  these  third  parties,  there  is  a  risk  the  confidentiality  of  data  held  by  us  or  by  third  parties  may  be
compromised and expose us to liability for such breach.

Global climate change could negatively affect our business

More regional and/or national requirements to reduce or mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions may adversely impact our business. Today there is a
lack  of  consistent  climate  legislation  which  results  in  economic  and  regulatory  uncertainty.  Any  future  regulations  aimed  at  mitigating  climate  change  may
negatively impact the demand for certain of our customer’s products which could in turn impact demand for our products and impact our results of operations.
The manifestations of climate change, such as extreme weather conditions or more frequent extreme weather events could disrupt our operations, damage our
facilities, disrupt our supply chain or make it harder or more difficult to obtain raw materials necessary for the manufacturing of our products.

RISKS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

Our business is exposed to risks inherent in international operations

We  currently  conduct  operations  in  various  countries  and  jurisdictions,  including  locating  certain  of  our  manufacturing  and  distribution  facilities  internationally,
which  subjects  us  to  the  legal,  political,  regulatory  and  social  requirements  and  economic  conditions  in  these  jurisdictions.  Some  of  these  countries  are
considered  growth  markets.  International  sales  and  operations,  especially  in  growth  markets,  subject  us  to  certain  risks  inherent  in  doing  business  abroad,
including:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

exposure to local economic conditions;

unexpected  changes  in  laws,  regulations,  trade,  or  monetary  or  fiscal  policy,  including  interest  rates,  foreign  currency  exchange  rates,  and
changes in the rate of inflation in the countries in which we do business;

foreign tax consequences;

inability  to  collect,  or  delays  in  collecting,  value-added  taxes  and/or  other  receivables  associated  with  remittances  and  other  payments  by
subsidiaries;

exposure to local political turmoil and challenging labor conditions;

expropriation and nationalization;

enforcing legal agreements or collecting receivables through foreign legal systems;

wage inflation in growth markets;

currency controls, including lack of liquidity in foreign currency due to governmental  restrictions, trade protection policies and currency controls,
which may create difficulty in repatriating profits or making other remittances;

compliance with the requirements of an increasing body of applicable anti-bribery laws;

reduced intellectual property protection in various markets;

investment restrictions or requirements; and

the imposition of product tariffs and the burden of complying with a wide variety of international and U.S. export laws.

The  Company  is  subject  to  taxation  in  the  U.S.  and  numerous  foreign  jurisdictions.  The  2017  United  States  Tax  Cut  and  Jobs  Act  (“Tax  Act”)  significantly
changed the taxation of U.S. based multinational corporations. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), and state tax authorities
have  issued  or  will  be  issuing  applicable  guidance  on  how  the  provisions  of  the  Tax  Act  will  be  applied  or  otherwise  administered,  and  additional  accounting
guidance or interpretations may be issued in the future that are different from our current interpretation. The legislation could be subject to potential amendments
and technical corrections, any of which could materially lessen or increase certain adverse impacts of the legislation. As regulations and guidance evolve with
respect to the Tax Act, and as we gather information and perform more analysis, our results may differ from previous estimates and may materially affect our
financial position

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Additionally, changes in tax laws or policies by foreign jurisdictions could result in a higher effective tax rate on our worldwide earning s and such change could
have a material adverse effect on our business prospects , cash flows, operating results and financial condition.

Our international operations also depend upon favorable trade relations between the U.S. and those foreign countries in which our customers and suppliers have
operations. The current U.S. presidential administration has created uncertainty about the future relationship between the U.S. and certain of its trading partners,
including with respect  to the trade policies and agreements,  treaties, government  regulations and tariffs that  could apply to trade between the  U.S. and other
nations.  These  developments  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  global  economic  conditions  and  the  stability  of  global  financial  markets,  and  may
significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between these nations and the U.S. It could also impact importing certain foreign produced vehicles into
the  U.S.  Similarly,  the  political  situations  in  certain  countries,  specifically  Brazil,  China,  France,  Russia,  Turkey,  and  the  United  Kingdom,  make  it  difficult  to
predict the near-term stability of trade costs with these nations. Changes in national policy or continued uncertainty could depress economic activity and restrict
our access to suppliers or customers and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, operating results and financial condition.

Increasing  our  manufacturing  footprint  in  the  growth  markets  and  our  business  relationships  with  automotive  manufacturers  in  these  markets  are  particularly
important elements of our strategy. As a result, our exposure to the risks described above may be greater in the future, and our exposure to risks associated with
developing countries, such as the risk of political upheaval and reliability of local infrastructure, may increase.

The exit of the United Kingdom from membership in the European Union may adversely affect our business and profitability

The expected exit of the United Kingdom (“U.K”) from the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”) could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market
conditions and contribute to instability in global financial and foreign exchange markets, including increased volatility in interest rates and foreign exchange rates.
Uncertainty over the terms of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, which is scheduled to occur on March 29, 2019, could cause political
and economic uncertainty in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Until agreements related to Brexit are in place, it is difficult to predict the impact Brexit
will have on international trade, and whether we need to renegotiate any of our contractual arrangements to accommodate a new trade regime. If the U.K. leaves
the EU without an agreement in place, there could be an adverse impact and volatility in foreign exchange markets and labor and trade practices and policy. We
conduct business in the United Kingdom and several EU nations and the taxation policies of the U.K. and the EU nations may change as a result of Brexit, which
could  adversely  impact  our  tax  positions.  We  may  be  required  to  comply  with  regulatory  requirements  in  the  United  Kingdom  that  are  in  addition  to,  or
inconsistent with, the regulatory requirements of the EU.

Although we are monitoring the ongoing potential impacts of Brexit and seek to minimize its impact on our business, the effects of Brexit could adversely affect
our business prospects, operating results, cash flows and financial condition.

Significant changes in the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) could adversely affect our financial performance

In October 2018, the U.S., Mexico and Canada agreed to a trade deal that would replace NAFTA, subject to legal review and ratification by each country. The
new deal, known as The United States Mexico Canada Agreement (“USMCA”), includes changes to the automotive rules of origin that dictate what percentage of
an automobile must be built from parts that originated from countries in the NAFTA region. The new rules would require that at least 75% of parts be made in
North  America  and  require  that  40-45%  of  an  automobile  must  be  made  by  workers  earning  at  least  $16  an  hour.  Reflective  of  the  automotive  industry,  our
vehicle  parts  manufacturing  facilities  in the  U.S.,  Mexico  and  Canada  are  highly  dependent  on  duty-free  trade  within the  NAFTA  region.  If  the  USMCA is  not
ratified  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  U.S.  withdraws  from  NAFTA,  such  withdrawal  could  have  a  materially  adverse  impact  on  our  financial  performance.  The
imposition of customs duties on imports into the U.S., Mexico, or Canada could negatively impact our financial performance.

Our foreign operations may subject us to risks relating to laws governing international relations

Due to our global operations, we are subject to many laws governing international relations (including, but not limited to, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and
other  anti-bribery  regulations  in  foreign  jurisdictions  where  we do  business),  which prohibit  improper  payments  to  government  officials  and  restrict  where  and
how we can do business, what information or products we can supply to certain countries and what information we can provide to authorities in governmental
authorities. We also export components and products that are subject to certain trade-related U.S. laws, including the U.S. Export Administration Act and various
economic sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Although  we  have  procedures  and  policies  in  place  that  should  mitigate  the  risk  of  violating  these  laws,  there  is  no  guarantee  that  they  will  be  sufficiently
effective. If and when we acquire new businesses, we may not be able to ensure that the pre-existing controls and procedures meant to prevent violations of
these laws were effective, and violations may occur if we are unable to timely implement corrective and effective controls and procedures when integrating newly
acquired  businesses.  Any  allegations  of  noncompliance  with  these  laws  could  harm  our  reputation,  divert  management  attention  and  result  in  significant
expenses, and could therefore materially harm our business prospects, operating results and financial condition.

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Our business in China is subject to aggressive competition and is sensitive to economic and market conditions

We operate in the highly competitive automotive supply market in China and face competition from both international and smaller domestic manufacturers. Due
to the significance of our China market for our profit and growth, we are exposed to risks in China. We anticipate that additional competitors, both international
and domestic, may seek to enter the Chinese market resulting in increased competition. Increased competition may result in price reductions, reduced margins
and our inability to gain or hold market share. There have been periods of increased market volatility and moderation in the levels of economic growth in China,
which  resulted  in  periods  of  lower  automotive  production  growth  rates  in  China  than  those  previously  experienced.  Our  business  in  China  is  sensitive  to
economic and market conditions that drive automotive sales volumes in China and may be impacted if there are reductions in vehicle demand in China. If we are
unable to maintain our position in the Chinese market, the pace of growth slows, or vehicle sales in China decrease, our business prospects, operating results
and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Global integration may result in additional risks

Because of our efforts to manage costs by integrating our operations globally, we face the additional risk that, should any of the other risks discussed herein
materialize,  the  negative  effects  could  be  more  pronounced.  For  example,  while  supply  delays  of  a  component  have  typically  only  affected  a  few  customer
vehicle models, such a delay could now affect several vehicle models of several customers in several geographic areas. Similarly, any recall or warranty issue
we face due to a product defect or failure is now more likely to involve a larger number of units in several geographic areas.

Exchange rate risks

As a result of our global presence, a significant portion of our revenues and expenses are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We are therefore
subject to foreign currency risks and foreign exchange exposure. Such risks and exposures include:

•

•

•

•

•

transaction exposure, which arises because the cost of a product originates in one currency and the product is sold in another currency;

revaluation effects, which arise from valuation of assets denominated in other currencies than the reporting currency of each unit;

translation exposure in the income statement, which arises when the income statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars;

translation exposure in the balance sheet, which arises when the balance sheets of non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars; and

changes in the reported U.S. dollar amounts of cash flows.

We  cannot  predict  exchange  rate  volatility  or  the  extent  of  its  impact  on  our  future  financial  results.  We  typically  denominate  foreign  transactions  in  foreign
currencies to achieve a natural hedge. However, a natural hedge cannot be achieved for all our currency flows; therefore, a net transaction exposure remains
within  the  group.  The  net  exposure  can  be  significant  and  creates  a  transaction  exposure  risk  for  the  Company.  The  Company  does  not  hedge  translation
exposure. However, we do engage in foreign exchange rate hedging from time to time related to foreign currency transactions.

RISKS RELATED TO ACQUISITIONS

We face risks in connection with acquisitions and joint ventures

Our  growth  has  been  enhanced  through  strategic  opportunities,  including  acquisitions  of  businesses,  products  and  technologies,  and  joint  development
agreements that we believe will complement our business. We regularly evaluate acquisition opportunities, frequently engage in acquisition discussions, conduct
due diligence activities in connection with possible acquisitions, and, where appropriate, engage in acquisition negotiations. We may not be able to successfully
identify suitable acquisition and joint venture candidates or complete transactions on acceptable terms, integrate acquired operations into our existing operations
or expand into new markets. Our failure to identify suitable strategic opportunities may restrict our ability to grow our business.

These strategic opportunities also involve numerous additional risks to us and our investors, including:

•

•

•

•

•

•

risks related to retaining acquired management and employees;

difficulties in integrating acquired technologies, products, operations, services and personnel with our existing businesses;

diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns;

assumption of contingent liabilities;

adverse financial impacts from the amortization of expenses related to intangible assets;

adverse financial impacts from potential impairment of goodwill;

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•

•

incurrence of indebtedness; and

potential adverse financial impacts.

In the future, we may pursue acquisitions of businesses or products that are complementary to our business but for which we have historically had little or no
direct  experience.  These  transactions  can  involve  significant  challenges  and  risks  as  well  as  significant  time  and  resources  that  may  divert  management’s
attention from other business activities. If we fail to adequately manage these risks, the acquisitions may not result in revenue growth, operational synergies or
service or technology enhancements, which could adversely affect our financial condition.

RISKS RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

If our patents are declared invalid or our technology infringes on the proprietary rights of others, our ability to compete may be impaired

We  have  developed  a  considerable  amount  of  proprietary  technology  related  to  automotive  safety  systems  and  rely  on  a  number  of  patents  to  protect  such
technology. Our intellectual property plays an important role in maintaining our competitive position in a number of the markets we serve. At present, we hold
approximately 6,050 patents covering a large number of innovations and product ideas, mainly in the fields of seatbelt and airbag technologies. In addition to our
in-house research and development efforts,  we seek to acquire rights to new intellectual property through  corporate acquisitions, asset acquisitions, licensing
and joint venture arrangements. Our patents and licenses expire on various dates during the period from 2019 to 2038. We do not expect the expiration of any
single patent or license to have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Developments or assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights could negatively impact our business. We primarily protect our innovations
with patents and vigorously protect and defend our patents, trademarks and know-how against infringement and unauthorized use. If we are not able to protect
our intellectual property and our proprietary rights and technology, we could lose those rights and incur substantial costs policing and defending those rights. We
also generate license revenue from these patents, which we may lose if we do not adequately protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. Our means
of protecting our intellectual property, proprietary rights and technology may not be adequate, and our competitors may independently develop technologies that
are similar or superior to our proprietary technologies, duplicate our technologies, or design around the patents we own or license. In addition, the laws of some
foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to as great an extent as the laws of the U.S.

We may not be able to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property rights, which could result in the loss of our rights or increased
costs.

Although we believe that our products and technology do not infringe the proprietary rights of others, third parties may assert infringement claims against us in
the  future.  Additionally,  we  license  from  third  parties  proprietary  technology  covered  by  patents,  and  we  cannot  be  certain  that  any  such  patents  will  not  be
challenged,  invalidated  or  circumvented.  Such  licenses  may  also  be  non-exclusive,  meaning  our  competition  may  also  be  able  to  access  such  technology.
Further,  we  expect  to  continue  to  expand  our  products  and  services  and  expand  into  new  businesses,  including  through  acquisitions,  joint  ventures  and  joint
development  agreements,  which  could  increase  our  exposure  to  patent  and  other  intellectual  property  claims  from  competitors  and  other  parties.  If  claims
alleging patent, copyright or trademark infringement are brought against us and are successfully prosecuted against us, they could result in substantial costs. If a
successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop non-infringing technology, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially
adversely  affected.  In  addition,  certain  of  our  products  utilize  components  that  are  developed  by  third  parties  and  licensed  to  us.  If  claims  alleging  patent,
copyright or trademark infringement are brought against such licensors and successfully prosecuted, they could result in substantial costs, and we may not be
able to replace the functions provided by these licensors. Alternate sources for the technology currently licensed to us may not be available in a timely manner,
may not provide the same functions as currently provided or may be more expensive than products currently used.

We may develop proprietary information through our in-house research and development efforts, consulting arrangements or research collaborations with other
entities or organizations. We may seek to protect this proprietary information by entering into confidentiality agreements or consulting, services or employment
agreements that contain non-disclosure and non-use provisions with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and other third parties. However, we may fail
to enter into the necessary agreements,  and even if entered  into, these agreements  may be breached  or may otherwise fail to  prevent disclosure, third-party
infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary information.

We  may  not  be  able  to  respond  quickly  enough  to  changes  in  technology  and  technological  risks  and  to  develop  our  intellectual  property  into
commercially viable products

Changes in legislative, regulatory or industry requirements or in competitive technologies may render certain of our products obsolete or less attractive to our
customers. We currently license certain proprietary technology to third parties and, if such technology becomes obsolete or less attractive, those licensees could
terminate  our  license  agreements,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations.  Our  ability  to  anticipate  changes  in  technology  and  regulatory
standards and to successfully develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis will be a significant factor in our ability to remain competitive.
We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to achieve the technological advances that may be necessary for us to remain competitive or that certain of
our products will not become obsolete. We are also subject to the risks generally associated with new product introductions and applications, including lack of
market acceptance, delays in product development and failure of products to operate properly. As part of our business strategy, we may from time to time seek
to  acquire  businesses  or  assets  that  provide  us  with  additional  intellectual  property.  We  may  experience  problems  integrating  acquired  technologies  into  our
existing technologies and products, and such acquired intellectual property may be subject to known or contingent liabilities such as infringement claims.

19

 
 
Some of our products and technologies may use “open source” software, which may restrict how we use or distri bute our products or require that
we release the source code of certain products subject to those licenses

Some  of  our  products  and  technologies  may  incorporate  software  licensed  under  so-called  “open  source”  licenses.  In  addition  to  risks  related  to  license
requirements, usage of open source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not
provide  warranties  or  controls  on  origin  of  the  software.  Additionally,  open  source  licenses  typically  require  that  source  code  subject  to  the  license  be  made
available to the public and that any modifications or derivative works to open source software continue to be licensed under open source licenses. These open
source  licenses  typically  mandate  that  proprietary  software,  when  combined  in  specific  ways  with  open  source  software,  become  subject  to  the  open  source
license.  If  we  combine  our  proprietary  software  in  such  ways  with  open  source  software,  we  could  be  required  to  release  the  source  code  of  our  proprietary
software. We take steps to ensure that our proprietary software is not combined with, and does not incorporate, open source software in ways that would require
our proprietary software to be subject to an open source license. However, few courts have interpreted open source licenses, and the manner in which these
licenses may be interpreted and enforced is therefore subject to some uncertainty.

RISKS RELATED TO GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND TAXES

Our  business  may  be  adversely  affected  by  laws  or  regulations,  including  environmental,  occupational  health  and  safety  or  other  governmental
regulations

We are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, including those related to the requirements of environmental, occupational health
and safety, financial and other matters. We cannot predict the substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulations, or the application thereof. The
introduction of new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations, or the interpretations thereof, could increase the costs of doing business for us
or  our  customers  or  suppliers  or  restrict  our  actions  and  adversely  affect  our  business  prospects,  operating  results,  cash  flows  or  financial  condition.  Our
operations  are  subject  to  environmental  and  safety  laws  and  regulations  governing,  among  other  things,  emissions  to  air,  discharges  to  waters  and  the
generation,  handling,  storage,  transportation,  treatment  and  disposal  of  waste  and  other  materials.  The  operation  of  automotive  parts  manufacturing  facilities
entails risks in these areas, and we cannot assure that we will not incur material costs or liabilities as a result. Additionally, environmental laws, regulations, and
permits and the enforcement thereof change frequently and have tended to become increasingly stringent over time, which may necessitate substantial capital
expenditures or operating costs or may require changes of production processes. Although we have no known pending material environmental issues, there is
no assurance that we will not be adversely impacted by any environmental costs, liabilities or claims in the future either under present laws and regulations or
those that may be adopted or imposed in the future. Our costs, liabilities, and obligations relating to environmental matters may have a material adverse effect
on our business, operating results, cash flows, or financial condition.

Our facilities in the U.S. are subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), which regulates the protection of the health
and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard requires that we maintain information about hazardous materials used or produced
in  our  operations  and  that  we  provide  this  information  to  employees,  state  and  local  governmental  authorities  and  local  residents.  We  are  also  subject  to
occupational  safety  regulations  in  other  countries.  Our  failure  to  comply  with  government  occupational  safety  regulations,  including  OSHA  requirements,  or
general  industry  standards  relating  to  employee  health  and  safety,  keep  adequate  records  or  monitor  occupational  exposure  to  regulated  substances  could
expose us to liability, enforcement, and fines and penalties, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows, or financial
condition.

Although we employ safety procedures in the design and operation of our facilities, there is a risk that an accident or injury to one of our employees could occur
in one of our facilities. Any accident or injury to our employees could result in litigation, manufacturing delays and harm to our reputation, which could negatively
affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our  business  may  be  adversely  affected  by  changes  in  automotive  safety  regulations  or  concerns  that  drive  further  regulation  of  the  automobile
safety market

Government vehicle safety regulations are a key driver in our business. Historically, these regulations have imposed ever more stringent safety regulations for
vehicles. Safety regulations have a positive impact on driver awareness and acceptance of automotive safety products and technology. These more stringent
safety regulations often require vehicles to have more safety content per vehicle and more advanced safety products, which has thus been a driver of growth in
our business.

However, these regulations are subject to change based on a number of factors that are not within our control, including new scientific or medical data, adverse
publicity  regarding  the  industry  recalls  and  safety  risks  of  airbags  or  seatbelts  (for  instance,  to  children  and  small  adults),  domestic  and  foreign  political
developments or considerations, and litigation relating to our products and our competitors’ products. Changes in government regulations in response to these
and  other  considerations  could  have  a  severe  impact  on  our  business.  Although  we  believe  that  over  time  safety  will  continue  to  be  a  regulatory  priority,  if
government priorities shift and we are unable to adapt to changing regulations, our business may suffer material adverse effects.

The  regulatory  obligation  of  complying  with safety  regulations  could  increase  as  federal  and  local  regulators  impose  more  stringent  compliance  and  reporting
requirements in response to product recalls and safety issues in our industry. We are subject to existing stringent requirements under the National Traffic and
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (the “Vehicle Safety Act”), including a duty to report, subject to strict timing requirements, safety defects with our products. The
Vehicle Safety Act imposes potentially significant civil penalties for violations including the failure to comply with such reporting actions. We are also subject to
the  existing  U.S.  Transportation  Recall  Enhancement,  Accountability  and  Documentation  (TREAD)  Act,  which  requires  equipment  manufacturers,  such  as
Autoliv, to comply with “Early Warning” requirements by reporting certain information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) such as:
information related to defects or reports of injury related to our products. TREAD imposes criminal liability for violating such requirements if a defect subsequently
causes death or bodily injury. In addition, the Vehicle Safety Act authorizes NHTSA to require a manufacturer to recall and repair vehicles that contain safety
defects or fail to comply with U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sales into foreign countries may be subject to similar regulations.

20

Due to the recent record recall of airbag inflators of one of our competitors, additional legislation has been proposed in the U.S. Congress regarding the reporting
requirements for product recalls. NHTSA has also become more active in requesting  information from suppliers and vehicle manufactures regarding potential
product defects. For example, in connection with the Toyota Recall, we, in connection with Toyota, have informed NHTSA of the reported incidents and Toyota
has discussed with NHTSA what action it will take to address the issue.

Negative or unexpected tax developments could adversely affect our effective tax rate, operating results and financial condition

Our annual tax rate is based on our income and the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Because of our global operations we face uncertainties and
judgments in the application of complex tax regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in
evaluating our tax positions. Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of our tax liability may be different from what is
reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals.

We  are  regularly  examined  by  tax  authorities  around  the  world  and  we  are  currently  under  examination  in  a  number  of  jurisdictions,  which  are  inherently
uncertain.  Although  we periodically  assess  the  likelihood  of  adverse  outcomes,  negative  or  unexpected  results from  one  or  more  of  such reviews and  audits,
including  any  related  interest  or  penalties  by  governmental  authorities,  could  increase  our  effective  tax  rate  and  adversely  impact  our  operating  results,  cash
flows, or financial condition.

The effective tax rates used for interim reporting are based on our projected full-year geographic earnings mix and consideration of our cash repatriation plans.
Changes  in  currency  exchange  rates,  earnings  mix  by  taxing  jurisdiction  or  in  cash  repatriation  plans  could  impact  our  reported  effective  tax  rates,  or  cause
fluctuations  in the  tax rate  from quarter  to  quarter.  Any anti-trust  judgements  or settlements  may not  be  tax  deductible,  which could have  a  material negative
impact to our annual tax rate. A number of other factors may also increase our effective tax rate, which could have an adverse impact on our profitability and
operating  results.  Due  to  our  numerous  foreign  operations,  our  tax  rate  may  be  impacted  by  our  global  mix  of  earnings  if  our  pre-tax  income  is  lower  than
anticipated in countries with lower statutory tax rates and/or is higher than anticipated in countries with higher statutory tax rat es. Based on U.S. regulatory rules,
we do not record current or deferred tax liabilities on permanent investments in our foreign subsidiaries and our foreign earnings that are indefinitely reinvested.
However,  if  our  non-U.S.  subsidiaries  were  to  distribute  cash  to  our  U.S.  parent  or  make  a  cash  outlay,  such  transactions  may  result  in  an  increase  to  our
effective tax rate. However, based on the Tax Act, a substantial liability for U.S. federal income taxes with respect to our non-U.S. earnings has been recorded.
See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Changes  in, or changes  in the  application  of,  U.S. or foreign  tax laws,  regulations  or accounting  principles with respect  to matters  such as tax rates,  transfer
pricing, dividends and restrictions on certain forms of tax relief or limitations on favorable tax treatment could affect the carrying value of our deferred tax assets
and/or our effective tax rate.

We may not be able to fully realize our deferred tax assets

We currently carry deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, resulting from deductible temporary differences and tax loss carry-forwards, both of which
will reduce taxable income in the future. However, deferred tax assets may only be realized against taxable income. The amount of our deferred tax assets could
be reduced, from time to time, due to adverse changes in our operations or in estimates of future taxable income from operations during the carry-forward period
as a result of a deterioration in market conditions or other circumstances. Any such reduction would adversely affect our income in the period of the adjustment.
Additional information on our deferred tax assets is included in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

RISKS RELATED TO THE SEPARATION OF VEONEER

We may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation

Although  we believe  that  the  separation  of  Veoneer  has provided  financial,  operational,  managerial  and  other  benefits  to  us and  our stockholders,  it may  not
provide results on the scope or scale we anticipated, or such benefits may be delayed or not occur at all. Following the completion of the spin-off, Autoliv is a
smaller, less diversified company with a narrower business focus and may be more vulnerable to changing market conditions, which could materially adversely
affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

We could incur significant liability if the separation is determined to be a taxable transaction

We have received an opinion of outside counsel to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the separation should qualify, for both Autoliv and its
stockholders, as a reorganization within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The opinion is
based  on  and  relies  on,  among  other  things,  certain  facts  and  assumptions,  as  well  as  certain  representations,  statements  and  undertakings  of  Autoliv  and
Veoneer,  including  those  relating  to  the  past  and  future  conduct  of  Autoliv  and  Veoneer.  If  any  of  these  facts,  assumptions,  representations,  statements  or
undertakings is, or becomes, inaccurate or incomplete, reliance on the opinion may be affected. An opinion of outside counsel represents their legal judgment
but is not binding on the IRS or any court. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions reflected in the opinion or that
a court would not sustain such a challenge.

21

 
Potential indemnif ication obligations to Veoneer or a refusal of Veoneer to indemnify us pursuant to the agreements executed in connection with the
internal reorganization and spin-off could materially adversely affect us

The  transaction  agreements  we  entered  into  with  Veoneer  in  connection  with  the  internal  reorganization  and  the  spin-off  provide  for  cross-indemnities  that
require  Autoliv  and  Veoneer  to  bear  financial  responsibility  for  each  company’s  business  prior  to  the  internal  reorganization  or  spin-off,  as  applicable,  and  to
indemnify  the  other  party  in  connection  with  a  breach  of  such  party  of  the  transaction  agreements;  provided,  however,  certain  warranty,  recall  and  product
liabilities for electronics products manufactured prior to the completion of the internal reorganization have been retained by us and we will indemnify Veoneer for
any losses associated with such warranty, recall or product liabilities pursuant to the distribution agreement entered into as part of the spin-off. Any indemnities
that  we  are  required  to  provide  to  Veoneer  may  be  significant  and  could  negatively  affect  our  business.  In  addition,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the
indemnities from Veoneer will be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of any potential liabilities. Even if we do succeed in recovering from Veoneer any
amounts  for  which  we  are  held  liable,  we  may  be  temporarily  required  to  bear  these  losses  ourselves.  In  addition,  each  of  these  risks  could  have  a  material
adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2. Properties

Autoliv’s principal executive offices are located at Klarabergsviadukten 70, Section B7, SE-111 64, Stockholm, Sweden. Autoliv’s various businesses operate in
a  number  of  production  facilities  and  offices.  Autoliv  believes  that  its  properties  are  adequately  maintained  and  suitable  for  their  intended  use  and  that  the
Company’s production facilities have adequate capacity for the Company’s current and foreseeable needs.  All of Autoliv’s production facilities and offices are
owned or leased by operating (either subsidiary or joint venture) companies.

22

 
Country/ Company

Brazil
Autoliv do Brasil Ltda.

Canada
Autoliv Canada, Inc.

VOA Canada, Inc.

China
Autoliv (Baoding) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd

Autoliv (Changchun) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.

  Taubaté

  Tilbury
  Collingwood

  Baoding

  Changchun

Autoliv (China) Steering Wheel Co., Ltd.

Autoliv (Guangzhou) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.

  Fengxian/Shanghai
  Guangzhou

  Nanjing

  Nanjing

  Shanghai

  Shanghai

  Jintan

  Nantong

  Taipei

Autoliv (Nanjing) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.

Autoliv Shenda (Nanjing) Automotive Components Co.,
Ltd.

Autoliv (Shanghai) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.

Autoliv Shenda (Tai Cang) Automotive Safety Systems
Co., Ltd.

Autoliv (Jiangsu) Automotive Safety Components Co.,
Ltd.

Autoliv (China) Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd.

Mei-An Autoliv Co., Ltd.

Estonia
AS Norma

France

Autoliv France SNC

Autoliv Isodelta SAS

Livbag SAS

N.C.S. Pyrotechnie et Technologies SAS

Germany
Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG

Hungary
Autoliv Kft.

India
Autoliv India Private Ltd.

Indonesia
P.T. Autoliv Indonesia

Japan
Autoliv Japan Ltd.

Malaysia
Autoliv-Hirotako Sdn Bhd

Mexico

AUTOLIV MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

  Location of Facility

    Items Produced at Facility

    Seatbelts, airbags, steering wheels and seatbelt

webbing

    Airbag cushions
    Seatbelt webbing

    Airbags

    Airbags and seatbelts

    Steering wheels
    Airbags and seatbelts

    Seatbelts

    Seatbelt webbing

    Airbags

    Seatbelt webbing

    Propellant, Airbag initiators and Airbag inflators

    Airbag cushions

    Seatbelts and airbags

  Tallinn

    Seatbelts and belt components

  Gournay-en-Bray
  Chiré-en-Montreuil
  Pont-de-Buis
  Survilliers

    Seatbelts and airbags
    Steering wheels and covers
    Airbag inflators
    Airbag initiators and seatbelt micro gas generators

  Dachau

Elmshorn

    Airbags

Seatbelts

  Sopronkövesd

    Seatbelts

  Bangalore
  Mysore
  Delhi
  Chennai

    Seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels
    Seatbelt webbing
    Seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels
    Airbags, Seatbelts

  Jakarta

    Seatbelts and steering wheels

  Atsugi
  Hiroshima
Taketoyo
Tsukuba

    Steering wheels
    Airbags and steering wheels

Airbag inflators
Airbags and seatbelts

  Kuala Lumpur

    Seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels

23

 Owned/
Leased

 Owned

 Owned
 Owned

 Leased

 Owned

 Owned
 Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Leased

 Owned

 Owned
 Owned
 Owned
 Owned

 Leased
Owned

 Owned

 Leased
 Owned
 Leased
 Leased

 Owned

 Owned
 Owned
Owned
Owned

 Owned

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Country/ Company

  Location of Facility

    Items Produced at Facility

Autoliv Mexico East S.A. de C.V.

Autoliv Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Autoliv Safety Technology de
Mexico S.A. de C.V.

Autoliv Steering Wheels Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.

  Matamoros
  Lerma
  Tijuana

  Querétaro
Querétaro

    Steering wheels
    Seatbelts
    Seatbelts

    Airbag cushions

Airbags

Philippines
Autoliv Cebu Safety Manufacturing, Inc.

Poland
Autoliv Poland Sp. zo.o.

  Cebu

    Steering wheels

  Olawa
  Jelcz-Laskowice

    Airbag cushions
    Airbags and seatbelts

Romania
Autoliv Romania S.R.L.

  Brasov

Seatbelts,  seatbelt  webbing,  airbags,  airbag  inflators,
springs for retractors and seatbelt components

Lugoj
  Resita
  Sfantu Georghe
  Onesti

Airbag cushions
    Airbag cushions
    Steering wheels
    Steering wheels

  Togliatti

    Airbags, seatbelts and steering wheels

  Krügersdorp

    Seatbelts and airbags

  Hwasung
Wonju

  Valencia

  Vårgårda

  Chonburi
Chonburi

  El Fahs

Nadhour

Airbags
Seatbelts

    Airbags

    Airbag inflators

    Seatbelts

Airbags, airbag cushions, steering wheels

    Leather wrapping of steering wheels

PU Molding andLeather wrapping of steering wheels

Russia
OOO Autoliv

South Africa
Autoliv Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd.

South Korea
Autoliv Corporation

Spain
Autoliv BKI S.A.U.

Sweden
Autoliv Sverige AB

Thailand
Autoliv Thailand Ltd.

Tunisia
SWT1 SARL

ASW3 SARL

Turkey
Autoliv Cankor Otomotiv Emniyet Sistemleri Sanayi Ve
Ticaret A.S.

  Gebze-Kocaeli

    Airbags and seatbelts

Autoliv Teknoloji Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti.

Gebze-Kocaeli

  Steering wheels

Autoliv Metal Pres Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.

  Gebze-Kocaeli

    Seatbelt components

United Kingdom
Airbags International Ltd

USA
Autoliv ASP, Inc.

  Congleton

    Airbag cushions

  Brigham City

Ogden
Ogden
Promontory
Tremonton

    Airbag inflators

Airbags
Airbags and service parts
Propellant
Airbag initiators and seatbelt micro gas generators

24

 Owned/
Leased

 Owned
 Owned
 Leased

 Leased
Leased

 Owned

 Owned
 Owned

Owned

Owned
 Leased
 Owned
 Leased

 Leased

 Owned

Owned
Owned

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned
Leased

 Owned &
Leased
Owned

 Owned

 Leased

 Owned

 Owned

 Owned
Owned
Leased
Owned
Owned

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
     
  
 
TECHNICAL CENTERS AND CRASH TEST TRACKS

Country / Company

China
Autoliv (Shanghai) Vehicle Safety System Technical Center
Co., Ltd.
France
Autoliv France SNC

Livbag SAS

Germany
Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG

India
Autoliv India Private Ltd.

Japan
Autoliv Japan Ltd.

Poland
Autoliv Poland Sp.z.o.o.

Romania
Autoliv Romania S.R.L.

South Korea
Autoliv Corporation

Sweden
Autoliv Development AB

Autoliv Sverige AB

USA
Autoliv ASP Inc.

  Location

  Shanghai

  Product(s) Supported

  Airbags and seatbelts customer applications and

platform development with full-scale test laboratory

  Gournay-en-Bray

  Airbags and seatbelts customer applications and

platform development with full-scale test laboratory

  Pont-de-Buis

Inflator and pyrotechnic development

  Dachau

Customer applications and platform development,
airbags with full-scale test laboratory

  Elmshorn

  Seatbelts with full-scale test laboratory

  Bangalore

  Airbags and seatbelts with sled testing

  Tsukuba

  Olawa

  Brasov

  Seoul

  Vårgårda
  Vårgårda

  Auburn Hills

  Ogden

Airbags and seatbelts customer applications and
platform development with sled test laboratory

  Airbags applications and platform development

  Seatbelts with sled test laboratory

Airbags and seatbelts customer applications and
platform development with sled test laboratory

  Research center

Airbags customer applications and platform
development with full-scale test laboratory

Airbags, steering wheels, and seatbelts customer
applications and platform development with full-scale
test laboratory

Airbags, inflators and pyrotechnics customer
applications and platform development

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to legal proceedings brought by or against us and our subsidiaries.

See  Note  18  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  in  this  Annual  Report  for  a  summary  of  certain  ongoing  legal  proceedings.  Such  information  is
incorporated into this Part I, Item 3 – “Legal Proceedings” by reference.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Com m on Equity, Relat e d Stockholder Matters and Is s uer P urchases of Equity Securities

Shareholder Information

The primary exchange market for Autoliv’s securities is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) where Autoliv’s common stock trades under the symbol “ALV”.
Autoliv’s Swedish Depositary Receipts (SDRs) are traded on NASDAQ Stockholm’s list for large market cap companies under the symbol “ALIV SDB”. Options
in SDRs trade on Nasdaq Stockholm under the name “Autoliv SDB”.  Options in Autoliv shares are traded on NASDAQ OMX PHLX and on NYSE Amex Options
under the symbol “ALV”.

Share price performance*

* For all periods before the distribution date of Veoneer on June 29, 2018, the Autoliv share prices are adjusted by a factor of 72.04%.

26

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of shares

During 2018, the number of shares outstanding increased by 0.1 million to 87.1 million (excluding dilution and treasury shares). The weighted average number of
shares outstanding for the full year 2018, assuming dilution, was reduced to 87.3 from 87.7 million in 2017.

Stock  options  (if  exercised)  and  granted  Restricted  Stock  Units  (RSUs)  could  increase  the  number  of  shares  outstanding  by  0.4  million  shares  in  total.
Combined, this would add 0.5% to the Autoliv shares outstanding. On December 31, 2018, 3.0 million shares were available for repurchase under the current
Board authorization from 2014. On December 31, 2018, the Company had 15.7 million treasury shares.

Number of shareholders

Autoliv estimates that there were approximately 70,000 beneficial Autoliv owners as of December 31, 2018. Close to 21% of Autoliv’s securities were held by
U.S.-based shareholders and around 60% by Sweden-based shareholders. Most of the remaining Autoliv securities were held in the U.K., other Nordic countries,
Central Europe, Japan and Canada.

Divi d ends

If  declared  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  quarterly  dividends  are  usually  paid  on  the  first  Thursday  in  the  last  month  of  each  quarter.  Declared  dividends  are
announced in press releases and published on Autoliv’s corporate website. Autoliv has a history of paying quarterly cash dividends and intends to pay similar
dividends in the future but may not because of certain factors as set forth in Risk Factors – “You should not anticipate or expect the payment of cash dividends
on our common stock” in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

See Autoliv’s corporate website for additional details regarding historical dividends.

Stock incentive plan

Autoliv  employees  participate  in  the  Autoliv,  Inc.  1997  Stock  Incentive  Plan  (the  “Stock  Incentive  Plan”)  and  receive  Autoliv  stock-based  awards  from  time  to
time.  In  connection  with  the  spin-off,  each  outstanding  Autoliv  stock-based  award  as  of  June  29,  2018  was  converted  to  stock  awards  that  have  underlying
shares  of  both  Autoliv  and  Veoneer  common  shares  (see  Note  17  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  in  this  Annual  Report).  Additional  information
regarding the securities authorized for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan is included in Item 12 of this Annual Report.

Autoliv has adopted a Stock Ownership Policy for Executives requiring the Company’s CEO to accumulate and hold the number of Autoliv shares having a value
of twice his annual base salary. For other executives, the minimum requirement is, over time, a holding equal to each executive’s annual base salary.

Sto c k repurchase program

Autoliv initiated its repurchase program in 2000 with 10 million shares and has subsequently increased the total authorization four times between 2000 and 2014
to 47.5 million shares.

Such purchases may be made from time to time on the open market or otherwise at the discretion of management. There is no expiration date for the share
repurchase authorization to provide management flexibility in the Company’s repurchases.

In total, Autoliv repurchased 44.5 million shares between May 2000 and December 31, 2017 for cash of $2,498 million, including commissions. No repurchases
were made during 2018. Autoliv has made no share repurchases since June 30, 2017. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the
stock repurchase program amounted to 2,986,288 shares at December 31, 2018.

Of the total number of repurchased shares, 23.6 million shares were utilized for the equity units offering during 2009-2012. In addition, approximately 5.3 million
shares have been utilized by the Stock Incentive Plan. At December 31, 2018, 15.7 million of the repurchased shares remain in treasury stock.

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Selected financial data for the last five fiscal years ended December 31 for the Continuing Operations, unless noted, is summarized in the table below.

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Sales and Income
Net sales
Operating income 4)
Income before income taxes 4)
Net income attributable to controlling interest 4)
Financial Position
Current assets excluding cash
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets (primarily goodwill)
Non-interest bearing liabilities
Capital employed 5)
Net debt 6, 8)
Total equity 5)
Total assets
Long-term debt 6)
Share data
Earnings per share (US$) – basic 4)
Earnings per share (US$) – assuming dilution 4)
Total parent shareholders’ equity per share (US$) 5)
Cash dividends paid per share (US$)
Cash dividends declared per share (US$)
Share repurchases
Number of shares outstanding (million) 2)
Ratios
Gross margin (%)
Operating margin (%) 4)
Pretax margin (%) 4)
Return on capital employed (%) 7)
Return on total equity (%) 4, 7)
Total equity ratio (%) 5)
Net debt to capitalization (%) 5, 6)
Days receivables outstanding
Days inventory outstanding
Other data
Airbag sales 3)
Seatbelt sales
Capital expenditures, net
Net cash provided by operating activities 1)
Net cash used in investing activities 1)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 1)
Number of employees, December 31

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014 1)

  $

8,678    $
686     
612     
376     

8,137    $
860     
792     
586     

7,922    $
831     
784     
558     

7,636    $
708     
655     
443     

2,670     
1,690     
1,423     
2,595     
3,516     
1,619     
1,897     
6,722     
1,609     

4.32     
4.31     
21.63     
2.46     
2.48     
—     
87.1     

19.7     
7.9     
7.1     
17   
13   
28     
46     
71     
35     

2,598     
1,609     
1,440     
2,418     
4,538     
368     
4,169     
6,947     
1,311     

6.70     
6.68     
46.38     
2.38     
2.40     
157     
87.0     

20.6     
10.6     
9.7     
n/a   
n/a   
49 

8     
76     
35     

2,269     
1,329     
1,430     
2,154     
4,225     
299     
3,926     
6,565     
1,313     

6.33     
6.32     
41.69     
2.30     
2.32     
—     
88.2     

20.6     
10.5     
9.9     
n/a   
n/a   
48     
7     
70     
32     

2,259     
1,265     
1,445     
2,049     
3,670     
202     
3,468     
6,518     
1,499     

5.03     
5.02     
39.22     
2.22     
2.24     
104     
88.1     

20.5     
9.3     
8.6     
n/a     
n/a     
46     
6     
71     
31     

9,240   
723   
667   
468   

2,607   
1,390   
1,661   
2,400   
3,504   
62   
3,442   
7,443   
1,521   

5.08   
5.06   
38.64   
2.12   
2.14   
616   
88.7   

19.5   
7.8   
7.2   
21   
12   
46   
2   
71   
32   

5,699     
2,980     
486     
591     
(628)    
(245)    
57,700     

5,342     
2,794     
464     
936     
(697)    
(566)    
56,700     

5,256     
2,665     
398     
868     
(726)    
(200)    
55,800     

5,036     
2,599     
397     
751     
(591)    
(319)    
51,300     

5,019   
2,800   
453   
713   
(453)  
226   
50,800   

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

8)

Including Discontinued Operations. This period has not been restated to reflect just continuing operations because it was not practicable to do so.
At year end, excluding dilution and net of treasury shares.
Including steering wheels, inflators and initiators.
Including antitrust provision expense of $210 million.
Impacted by the distribution of Veoneer on June 29, 2018 of approximately $2 billion recorded as a reduction of equity.
The increase in debt is primarily driven by our capitalization of Veoneer of approximately $1 billion prior to the distribution to the shareholders.
The Company has decided not to recalculate prior periods since the distribution of Veoneer had a significant impact on total equity and capital employed making the
comparison less meaningful.
See section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures in item 7.

28

 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
    
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Important Trends

The discussions and analysis in this section is focused on our continuing operations. For more information on our discontinued operations, see Note 3 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report.

Autoliv,  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  provides  automotive  safety  systems  to  the  automotive  industry  with  a  broad  range  of  product  offerings,  primarily  passive  safety
systems. In the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, a number of factors have influenced the Company’s results of operations. The most notable factors
have been:

•

•

•

•

•

Growth in light vehicle production and safety content per vehicle

Continued strong order intake

Operational initiatives

Continued focus on operational excellence and quality

Changes in competitive environment

YEARS ENDED DEC. 31 (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT EPS)
Global light vehicle production (in thousands)
Consolidated net sales
Operating income 3)
Operating margin, % 3)
Net income attributable to controlling interest from Continuing
   Operations 3)
Earnings per share Continuing Operations 2, 3)
Net cash provided by operating activities 4)
Return on capital employed, % 5)

2018 1)

2017 1)

2016 1)

Reported     change     Reported     change  
  91,344     
$ 8,678     
686     
7.9     

(1) %   92,128     
7  % $ 8,137     
860     
10.6     

  Reported    
2  %    90,056   
3  %  $ 7,922   
831   
3  %   
10.5   
0.1  pp   

(20) %  
(2.7) pp  

376     
4.31     
591     
16.8   

(36) %  
(35) %  
(37) %  
n/a  pp

586     
6.68     
936     
n/a   

5  %   
6  %   
8  %   

n/a  pp 

558   
6.32   
868   
n/a   

change

5 %
4 %
17 %
1.2 pp

26 %
26 %
16 %
n/a pp

1)

2)
3)
4)
5)

Reported figures impacted by costs for capacity alignments and antitrust related matters in 2016-2018, and by separation costs in 2018. See section Items affecting
comparability and Notes 12 and 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
Assuming dilution and net of treasury shares.
Including antitrust provision expense of $210 million.
Including Discontinued Operations
The Company has decided not to recalculate prior periods since the distribution of Veoneer had a significant impact on capital employed making the comparison less
meaningful.

GROWTH IN LIGHT VEHICLE PRODUCTION AND SAFETY CONTENT PER VEHICLE

The most important driver for Autoliv’s sales is the light vehicle production (LVP). During 2018 we experienced significant changes in LVP, especially in Europe
impacted by the new emission testing WLTP and in China due to lower consumer demand for vehicles. As a result, full-year 2018 global LVP declined by 1%.
This came after eight straight years of LVP growth. In 2017, the LVP grew by 2% and in 2016, the year-over-year growth in LVP was 5%.

Light Vehicle Production

North America
South America

China
Japan
South Korea
India
Other Asia

Americas

Europe
Asia

Other
Global
   Total

2018

2017

2016

Change '18 vs ´16

(000´) units  

  % global

  (000´) units  

  % global

  (000´) units  

  % global

(000´) units  

%

19,124   
15,751   
3,373   
21,887   
47,811   
25,696   
9,052   
3,951   
4,712   
4,400   
2,522   

91,344   

21%  
17%  
4%  
24%  
52%  
28%  
10%  
4%  
5%  
5%  
3%  

19,185   
15,920   
3,265   
22,180   
48,233   
26,575   
9,021   
4,023   
4,420   
4,194   
2,530   

21%  
17%  
4%  
24%  
52%  
29%  
10%  
4%  
5%  
5%  
3%  

19,421   
16,678   
2,743   
21,458   
46,890   
25,952   
8,517   
4,143   
4,136   
4,142   
2,287   

22%  
19%  
3%  
24%  
52%  
29%  
9%  
5%  
5%  
5%  
3%  

(296)  
(927)  
630   
429   
921   
(256)  
535   
(192)  
577   
258   
235   

100%  

92,128   

100%  

90,056   

100%  

1,288   

(2)%
(6)%
23%
2%
2%
(1)%
6%
(5)%
14%
6%
10%

1%

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
    
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
The main markets contributing to the global LVP growth during 2016 to 2018 were South America and India. Affected by political factors and microeconomics in
the  second  half  of  2018,  Chinese  LVP  declined  by  1%  from  2016  to  2018.    In  Europe,  which  is  an  important  ma  rket  for  automotive  safety  systems,  LVP
increased  by  2%  or  by  approximately  0.4  million  light vehicles during  the  same three-year  period.  In  North  America,  LVP declined  by  6 %  or  0.9  million  light
vehicles . Thanks to strong domestic demand and growing expor t to other countries, LVP in India increased by 14% during the three-year period to 4.7 million
light vehicles in 2018.

Europe’s share of global LVP has remained unchanged  at 24%, while North America has declined from 19% to 17% and China from 29% to 28% during the
same three-year period.

Thanks to more stringent crash ratings, by institutes such as EuroNCAP; and increasing consumer demand for more safety in emerging markets, we see vehicle
manufacturers  installing  more  airbags  and  more  advanced  seatbelt  systems  in  their  vehicles.  This  generally  happens  when  new  models  are  introduced.  The
safety  standards  of  vehicles  are  increasing  in  China,  India  and  other  growth  markets  such  as  Brazil,  partially  due  to  new  regulations  and  crash  test  rating
programs.  For  example,  the  Indian  government  has  decided  on  a  new  traffic  regulation  that  mandates  more  rigid  crash  test  standards  of  light  vehicles.  This
should  eventually  lead  to  a  higher  installation  rate  of  airbags  and  more  advanced  seatbelts.  Thanks  to  these  positive  worldwide  trends,  as  well  as  currency
translation effects, the average global safety content (airbags, seatbelts and steering wheels) per light vehicle (CPV) has increased from around $220 to around
$225 during the period 2017-2018. This increase comes despite the fact that growth in global LVP is mostly in markets with lower average safety CPV such as
South America and India, where the CPV is only approximately $170 and $80, respectively. In addition, there is a negative effect from continued pricing pressure
from vehicle manufacturers.

These trends should enable the global automotive safety market to grow faster than the global LVP during the next three years.

WELL BALANCED GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

Autoliv’s regional sales mix continues to be balanced with 32% of sales in Europe, 31% in the Americas and 37% in Asia in 2018, compared to 32%, 32% and
36%,  respectively,  in  2017.  In  Asia,  our  sales  in  the  important  Chinese  market  represents  18%  of  total  sales  in  2018,  despite  of  the  first  drop  in  LVP  in  the
country  in  decades.  Regardless  of  the  short-term  weakness  in  the  Chinese  market,  we  remain  well  positioned  in  this  market,  which  is  the  world’s  largest
automotive producing market.

The balanced regional sales mix has been achieved through timely investments and strengthening of technical and support capabilities in growth markets and
early introduction and execution of our restructuring and capacity alignment activities. To further improve our competitiveness, we have also made substantial
investments to increase manufacturing capacity for vertical integration in China and Thailand.

For Asia as a whole, the effect of the higher sales in China, Japan and India was partly offset by declining sales in South Korea.

A fast-growing customer from 2016 to 2018 has been Honda. Their share of our sales has increased from close to 7% to 8% during the three-year period. The
largest customer based in Asia is Hyundai/Kia, accounting for 8% of Autoliv sales. The local Chinese OEMs as a group accounted for around 4% of our sales in
2018, with Great Wall representing 2%.

Our  sales  to  premium  brand  OEMs  accounted  for  around  18%  of  total  sales,  while  their  share  of  global  LVP  is  approximately  11%.  Our  strong  position  with
premium  OEMs  reflects  the  higher  safety  content  in  their  vehicles  along  with  our  position  as  a  technology  leader  in  the  automotive  safety  market.  Of  the
European OEMs, Daimler stands out, accounting for 6% of Autoliv’s total sales, representing more than two times their global LVP market share. This is a result
of our strong position within advanced safety solutions in their vehicles.  

The Detroit Three automobile manufacturers, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and GM, account for 8%, 8% and 4% of our total sales, respectively. Because Autoliv was on a
new business hold with GM during 2011-2012 and PSA’s acquisition of GM’s European brand Opel, GM’s share of Autoliv total sales declined from 8% in 2016
to 4% in 2018. This has affected most regions not only Europe and North America.
CONTINUED STRONG ORDER INTAKE

Building on a strong base, including supplying our delivering products to approximately 1,300 vehicle models and 100 car brands, Autoliv recorded its highest
order intake ever during the period 2016-2018, winning around 50% of available orders. Our share of order intake in the past three years is significantly above
our  sales  market  share  of  around  40%  in  2018.  Part  of  the  high  order  intake  is  the  consequence  of  major  recalls  by  another  airbag  manufacturer.  The  most
substantial  increase  in  order  intake  was  in  2015,  where  it  increased  by  80%  compared  to  2014,  to  $11.9  billion.  Since  2016,  order  intake  has  continued  to
increase and reached in 2018 $15.5 billion in estimated life-time sales, an increase of 26% compared to 2016.

Due to the lead time from order to start of production, 2017 was the first year the increased level of order intake began to impact our sales. The sales growth has
substantially  accelerated  during  2018,  outgrowing  LVP  with  close  to  10%  in  the  fourth  quarter.  During  2018,  growth  was  positively  affected  through  recent
launches of several new models, including e.g. Dodge Ram 1500, Tesla Model 3 and Honda Accord. The lead time from order intake to start of production is
typically 18-36 months. During this period the products are engineered into the vehicle to provide the expected protection for occupants in case of a crash and to
meet legal and regulatory requirements, as well as other requirements from the vehicle manufacturer. This investment in new products is the main reason for the
increase in RD&E expenses, net, between 2016 and 2018. Additionally, we have to build up production capacity, in the form of new lines and buildings, to meet
future product launches.

30

 
OPERATIONAL INITIATIVES

Over the years we have seen an uneven capacity utilization in several of our plants, mainly in Europe. The costs for restructuring activities in 2018 amounted to
$9 million compared to $23 million in 2017 and to $21 million in 2016

The  current  restructuring  activities  are  expected  to  have  a  payback  period  of  around  3  years,  or  more,  after  cash-out.  The  cash  payments  in  2018  were  $14
million  compared  to  $23  million  in  2017  and  $71  million  in  2016.  As  of  December  31,  2018,  we  have  $33  million  reserved  in  our  balance  sheet  related  to
restructuring (see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein).

Capital  expenditures,  net  of  $486  million  in  2018,  was  $22  million  and  $88  million  higher  than  in  2017  and  2016,  respectively.    In  relation  to  sales  Capital
expenditures, net was 5.6% in 2018 and 5.7% in 2017 and 5.0% in 2016. The level of Capital expenditures, net, supports our growth strategy and reflects the
high order intake for the period 2016 to 2018.

IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES THROUGH OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Pricing  pressure  is  an  inherent  part  of  the  automotive  supplier  business.  Price  reductions  are  generally  higher  on  newer  products  with  strong  volume  growth
compared to older products, where both the possibilities to re-design the product to reduce costs and market growth are less. Price reductions also depend on
the business cycle. For the period 2016-2018, we estimate the average reduction of our market prices to have been in the range of 2-4% annually. As described
below, to meet these price reductions, we have implemented several programs and taken actions to address every item in our cost structure. Additionally, during
the period 2016-2018, we have experienced raw material commodity costs increase of around $30 million.

Our productivity improvement target is to achieve at least 5% savings per year. To meet this target, Autoliv has developed a set of strategies to reduce costs in
manufacturing:

•

•

Autoliv  production  system  (APS)  is  based  on  lean  manufacturing  methodology  which  aims  to  continuously  increase  output  with  less  resources.
APS provides the target conditions and tools to achieve the delivery of goods and services at the right time, in the right amount, at the required
quality and at the lowest cost possible to all our customers.

Our  One  Product  One  Process  (1P1P)  strategy  focuses  on  product  and  process  standardization  and  reducing  cost  and  complexity.  The  1P1P
strategy, combined with initiatives to reduce costs for components from external suppliers, ensures that we continuously optimize our supply base
footprint,  consolidate  purchase  volumes  to  fewer  suppliers,  improve  productivity  in  our  supply  chain,  standardize  components  and  redesign  our
products.

These strategies have enabled productivity improvements in Autoliv’s manufacturing of over 5% for four out of the five past years. It was only in 2018 that the
target was not achieved because of elevated launch related costs.

To reduce labor costs while offsetting the price erosion on our products, we continuously implement productivity improvement programs, expand production in
Best Cost Countries (BCCs) and institute restructuring and capacity alignment activities. The number of employees in the BCCs in relation to total headcount has
increased slightly from 78% in 2016 to over 80% in 2018.  

These  initiatives,  in  combination  with  our  restructuring  activities,  investment  in  vertical  integration  and  several  other  actions,  are  in  place  to  offset  the  market
price erosion.

We  foresee  opportunities  for  further  productivity  on  gains  from  increasing  use  of  automation  in  our  assembly  for  lean  manufacturing  processes.  Additionally,
automated cells typically perform the manufacturing process with reduced variability. This results in greater control and consistency of product quality.

FOCUS ON QUALITY INCREASING

The number of vehicle recalls in the automotive industry has risen sharply over the last few years. In 2015 and 2016, Takata’s airbag inflators recall generated a
record number of recalls in the automotive industry. We expect overall recall numbers to remain high for years to come and, although we strive for the highest
quality in our processes, it cannot be ruled out that we may also be adversely impacted by a future recall.

Quality has been and always will be our number one priority, and we continue to sharpen our focus in this area. We now command a market share of 40% in
passive safety. At the same time, we have been involved in less than 2% of passive safety recalls in the industry in the past ten years; an important indicator that
we  are  delivering  on  our  quality  strategy.  For  more  information  see  product  warranty  and  recalls  in  Note  13  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  in  this
Annual Report.

CHANGES IN COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

During  the  period  2016  to  2018,  we  experienced  significant  changes  in  our  competitive  landscape.  In  2015,  TRW,  a  key  competitor  in  passive  safety,  was
acquired by German group ZF Friedrichshafen. Combined, the new company is the third-largest passive safety supplier globally. In 2016, Key Safety Systems
(“KSS”) was acquired by Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp. Beginning in 2014, Takata, our largest competitor, experienced severe issues and recalls related to
malfunctioning airbag inflators, leading the company to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and Japan. In 2018, Joyson substantially acquired all of Takata's
global assets and operations and combined it with KSS, forming the new company JSS.

31

 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANTITRUST INVESTIGATION

Since 2011, Autoliv has been subject to an investigation of anti-competitive behavior among suppliers of occupant safety systems by the European Commission
(EC). We now have reason to believe that the EC will seek to impose a fine of approximately 185 million Euros in connection with the remaining portion of the EC
investigation. Therefore, the Company accrued $210 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company believes that a fine could be issued during the first half
of 2019, although this may be delayed.

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

The Company’s net debt was at $1,619 million on December 31, 2018. This was an increase by $1,250 million compared to December 31, 2017. The increase
was  mainly  driven  by  the  $972  million  capitalization  of  Veoneer  prior  to  the  spin-off.  Total  interest  bearing  debt  at  December  31,  2018  amounted  to  $2,230
million, an increase by $899 million compared to December 31, 2017.

Cash flow from operations, including discontinued operations, was $591 million in 2018 and $936 million in 2017. Capital expenditures, net amounted to $555
million in 2018 and $570 million in 2017. During the two-year period 2017-2018 the Company paid dividends of $423 million and repurchased shares for $157
million. After the latest declared dividend of 62 cents per share, the annualized run rate is $216 million, based on number of shares outstanding at December 31,
2018.

It is the Company’s policy to maintain a financial leverage commensurate  with a “strong investment grade credit rating” and our long-term target is to have a
leverage ratio (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) of around 1.0 times and to be within the range of 0.5 times to 1.5 times. We monitor our
capital structure and the financial markets closely and intend to maintain a high level of financial flexibility while being shareholder friendly.

As  part  of  the  adjustment  of  the  capital  structure  the  Company  historically  has  repurchased  shares  of  its  common  stock.  During  2018,  the  Company  did  not
repurchase  any  shares,  during  2017,  the  Company  repurchased  1.4  million  shares  for  approximately  $157  million,  including  commissions.  At  December  31,
2018, the remaining number of shares authorized by the board of directors for repurchase is approximately 3.0 million shares.

CURRENCY IMPACTS

The Company is exposed to around 50 currency pairs, with exposures in excess of $1 million each. We are monitoring our currency exposure but do not hedge
currency  flows.  Rather  we strive  to  have  sales  and  costs  in  the  same currency  to reduce  the  transaction  exposure risk. The  total  net  transaction  exposure  in
2018 was approximately $2.4 billion or 28% of sales. Approximately three quarters of our sales are denominated in other currencies than U.S. dollars, which is
leading to currency translation effects.

Outlook for 2019

Mainly based on our customer call-offs and a light vehicle production outlook that is slightly below the IHS estimate, the indication for organic sales growth for the
full year 2019 is around 5%. Currency translations are expected to have a combined negative effect of around 1%, resulting in a consolidated sales increase of
around 4%. The indication for adjusted operating margin for the full year 2019 is around 10.5%.

The projected tax rate, excluding unusual items, for the full year 2019, is expected to be around 28%, and is subject to change due to nonrecurring events that
may occur.

The projected operating cash flow for the full year 2019, excluding any unusual items, is expected to be higher than for Continuing Operations full year 2018 of
around $810 million. The projected capital expenditures as percent of sales, net, for the full year 2019 is expected to be lower than for Continuing Operations full
year 2018 of around 5.6%.

The projected R,D&E, net, as percent of sales, for the full year 2019 is expected to be lower than for Continuing Operations full year 2018 of around 4.8%. The
projected leverage ratio is expected to be well within our target range of 0.5x to 1.5x at the end of 2019.

The forward-looking non-U.S. GAAP financial measures above are provided on a non-U.S. GAAP basis. Autoliv has not provided a U.S. GAAP reconciliation of
these measures because items that impact these measures, such as costs related to capacity alignments and antitrust matters cannot be reasonably predicted
or determined. As a result, such reconciliation is not available without unreasonable efforts and Autoliv is unable to determine the probable significance of the
unavailable information.

Significant Legal Matters

The  Company  is  subject  to  ongoing  antitrust  investigations  by  governmental  authorities  in  several  jurisdictions  as  well  as  related  civil  litigation.  For  further
discussion of these antitrust matters and other legal proceedings see Item 3. Legal Proceedings and Note 18 Contingent Liabilities to the Consolidated Financial
Statements in this Annual Report.

32

 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Versus 2017

Sales by Product

Airbags products and Other 2)
Seatbelt products 2)
Total

1)
2)

Effects from currency translations.
Including Corporate and Other sales.

2018
Sales (MUSD)

2017
Sales (MUSD)

Reported
change

 $

 $

5,698 
2,980 
8,678 

 $

 $

5,343 
2,794 
8,137 

6.7%  
6.7%  
6.7%  

Components Of Change In Net Sales

Currency effects 1)

Organic

1.8%  
2.2%  
1.9%  

4.9%
4.5%
4.8%

Consolidated net sales increased by 6.7% compared to full year 2017 with an organic growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) of 4.8% and
positive currency translation effects of 1.9%.

Airbag sales grew organically (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) by 4.9%, mainly driven by steering wheels in North America, Europe and
China and from inflatable curtains in North America, partly offset by organic sales decline of inflatable curtains in Europe.

Seatbelt sales grew organically (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) by 4.5%, mainly driven by growth in North America, India and China, partly
offset by declines in Europe.

Sales by Region

Asia
Whereof: China
Japan
Rest of Asia

Americas
Europe
Global

1)

Effects from currency translations.

 $

2018
Sales (MUSD)  
3,195 
1,522 
828 
845 
2,735 
2,748 
8,678 

 $

 $

2017
Sales (MUSD)  
2,998 
1,421 
787 
790 
2,435 
2,704 
8,137 

 $

Reported
change

Components Of Change In Net Sales  

Currency effects 1)

Organic  

6.6%  
7.1%  
5.2%  
6.9%  
12.3%  
1.7%  
6.7%  

1.9%  
2.2%  
1.6%  
1.3%  
(1.0)%  
4.5%  
1.9%  

4.7%
4.9%
3.6%
5.6%
13.3%
(2.8)%
4.8%

For the full year 2018, Autoliv’s sales grew organically (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) by 4.8% compared to full year 2017, almost 6pp
more than LVP growth according to IHS. The largest contributors to the organic growth were North America, China and India, partly offset by Europe and South
Korea.

The organic sales increase (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) from Autoliv’s companies in China of 4.9% was driven by both domestic and
global OEMs. Sales growth to domestic OEMs was mainly with Geely, including Lynk & Co, and Great Wall while growth with the global OEMs was mainly with
VW, Honda and Nissan.

Organic sales growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) of 3.6% from Autoliv’s companies in Japan was mainly derived from sales to Subaru
and Mitsubishi as well as inflator replacement sales.

Organic sales growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) from Autoliv’s companies in the Rest of Asia of 5.6% was driven by strong sales
development  in  India,  which  grew  organically  by  26%,  mainly  from  sales  to  Suzuki,  Honda,  Tata  and  Hyundai/Kia.  Sales  in  South  Korea  decreased,  driven
mainly by lower sales to Hyundai/Kia.

The organic growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) from Autoliv’s companies in Americas was 13.3%. North America grew organically by
13.1% mainly due to new model launches with FCA, Honda, Nissan, Tesla and VW, partly offset by lower sales to Daimler, GM and Ford. Overall growth was
driven by all main product groups. Sales in South America grew organically by 18.2%, mainly due to increased sales to FCA and VW.

33

 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
The 2.8% organic sales decline (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) fro m Autoliv’s companies in Europe was mainly driven by Renault, FCA,
BMW, JLR, PSA and Ford, partly offset by strong performance with premium brands such as Daimler and Volvo.

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Net Sales
Gross profit
% of sales

S,G&A

% of sales

R,D&E net

% of sales

Other income (expense), net

% of sales

Operating income

% of sales

Interest expense, net
Income before taxes
Tax rate
Income attributable to controlling interest from Continuing
   Operations
Earnings per share Continuing Operations, diluted 1, 2)

Years ended December 31

2018

2017

Change

$

8,678 
1,711 

  $

8,137 
1,680 

19.7%  
(390)
(4.5)%  
(413)
(4.8)%  
(211)
(2.4)%  
686 
7.9%  
(59)
612 
38.4%  

376 
4.31 

20.6%   
(407)
(5.0)%   
(371)
(4.6)%   
(32)
(0.4)%   
860 
10.6%   

(54)
792 
25.8%   

586 
6.68 

6.7%
1.9%
(0.9)pp
(4.0)%
(0.5)pp
11.3%
0.2pp
565.9%
2.0pp
(20.2)%
(2.7)pp
9.3%
(22.7)%
12.6pp

(35.9)%
(35.5)%

1)
2)

Assuming dilution and net of treasury shares.
Participating share awards with right to receive dividend equivalents are (under the two class method) excluded from the EPS calculation.

GROSS PROFIT

The gross profit for the full year 2018 increased by $32 million, compared to the prior year, as a result of higher sales partly offset by a lower gross margin. The
gross margin decreased by 0.9pp compared to full year 2017, mainly due to adverse impact from launch related costs, raw material costs and currency changes
which more than offset the operating leverage on the increased sales.

OPERATING INCOME

Operating income decreased by $174 million to $686 million. The reported operating margin was 7.9% of sales, compared to 10.6% of sales in the prior year.
The decrease of 2.7pp of sales was mainly due to higher costs for antitrust related matters, compared to, reported as Other income (expense), net, lower gross
margin and higher R,D&E, net costs.

Selling, General and Administrative (S,G&A) expenses decreased by $16 million or 0.5pp of sales driven by transition service agreement income, lower bonus
accruals  and  lower  legal  costs.  Research,  Development  &  Engineering  (R,D&E)  expenses,  net  as  percent  of  sales  was  4.8%  compared  to  4.6%  in  the  same
period the prior year mainly as a result of the significant increase in product launches during the first half of 2018 and continued strong order intake.

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

Interest expense, net in full year 2018 was $59 million. The increase of $5 million compared to $54 million in full year 2017 is related to interest expenses after
issuing  the  500  million  Eurobond  in  June  2018  partly  offset  by  less  USPP  debt.  Interest  income  was  close  to  $7  million  in  full  year  2018,  $0.5  million  lower
compared to full year 2017 due to lower cash balances.

INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate in 2018 was 38.4% compared to 25.8% in 2017. The tax rate for 2018 excluding discrete tax items was 29.1% compared to 24.8% in 2017.
The  tax  rate  for  2018  was  impacted  by  several  items,  including  additional  tax  cost  recorded  related  to  the  U.S.  transition  tax  and  the  impact  of  the  antitrust
accrual, which is not deductible for tax purposes. The tax rate for 2017 was impacted by the reversal of the valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets
and the estimate of the negative impact of the U.S. tax reform (specifically the deemed repatriation of non-U.S. earnings and the revaluation of U.S. deferred tax
assets to the new lower U.S. tax rate). See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

NET INCOME AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

Net  income  attributable  to  controlling  interest  from  Continuing  Operations  decreased  year  on  year  primarily  driven  by  the  antitrust  accrual  as  noted  above.
Earnings per share (EPS) from Continuing Operations assuming dilution decreased by 35.5% to $4.31 compared to $6.68 for the same period one year ago. The
main items affecting EPS negatively were 208 cents from higher costs primarily relating to antitrust related matters and 42 cents from higher underlying tax rate.
The main offsetting effects were 15 cents from discrete tax items.

The weighted average number of shares outstanding assuming dilution was 87.3 million compared to 87.7 million for full year of 2017.

34

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Versus 2016

Sales by Product

Airbags products and Other 2)
Seatbelt products 2)
Total

1)
2)

Effects from currency translations.
Including Corporate and Other sales.

2017
(Sales MUSD)

2016
(Sales MUSD)

Reported
change

Currency
effects 1)

Organic

 $

 $

5,343 
2,794 
8,137 

 $

 $

5,257 
2,665 
7,922 

1.6%    
4.8%    
2.7%    

0.3%    
0.8%    
0.5%    

1.3%
4.0%
2.2%

Components Of Change In
Net Sales

Consolidated sales increased by 2.7% to $8,137 million. Excluding positive currency translation effects, the organic sales growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP
Performance Measures) was 2.2%, in line with global light vehicle production despite negative impact from lower inflator sales.

Airbag sales had solid organic growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) for the full year in Asia, especially in India, Japan and China. South
America grew strongly while Europe and South Korea showed more modest organic growth. North American sales declined organically.

Seatbelt sales grew organically (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) for the full year in all regions except in North America and South Korea,
with Europe and Japan as the largest growth drivers.

Inflator  replacement  sales  affected  the  segment’s  organic  sales  growth  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  for  the  full  year  negatively  by
around 0.4pp.

Sales by Region

Asia
Whereof: China

Japan
Rest of Asia

Americas
Europe
Global

Components Of Change In
Net Sales

2017
Sales (MUSD)

2016
Sales (MUSD)

Reported
change

Currency
effects 1)

Organic

  $

  $

2,998    $
1,421     
787     
790     
2,435     
2,704     
8,137    $

2,831     
1,385     
719     
727     
2,547     
2,544     
7,922     

5.9%    
2.6%    
9.5%    
8.8%    
(4.4)%    
6.3%    
2.7%    

(0.9)%    
(1.6)%    
(3.3)%    
3.0%    
0.1%    
2.5%    
0.5%    

6.8%
4.2%
12.8%
5.8%
(4.5)%
3.8%
2.2%

1)

Effects from currency translations.

For  the  full  year  2017,  Autoliv’  sales  grew  organically  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  by  2.2%  compared  to  full  year  2016,  in line  with
global LVP growth according to IHS. The largest contributors to the organic growth were Europe, Japan, and China, partly offset by North America and South
Korea.

The  organic sales increase (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance  Measures)  from Autoliv’s companies in  China was  mainly  driven  by  the  global  OEMs,
primarily Renault/Nissan and Daimler, partly offset by Hyundai/Kia. Organic sales to the domestic OEMs also increased, with increases to models from Geely
and Great Wall, partly offset by decreases to models from Haima. Inflator replacement sales contributed positively to organic sales growth.

Organic  sales  growth  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  from  Autoliv’s  companies  in  Japan was  driven  by  Toyota,  Renault/Nissan  and
Mitsubishi. Offsetting effects are mainly from decreasing inflator replacement sales.

Organic  sales  growth  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  from  Autoliv’s  companies  in  the  Rest  of  Asia  was  driven  by  strong  sales
development in India, mainly to Suzuki and Hyundai/Kia. Sales in South Korea decreased, driven by Ssangyong and GM.

Sales  from  Autoliv’s  companies  in  Americas declined  organically  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  by  4.5%.  North  America  declined  by
6.0% organically, driven primarily by GM due to unfavorable platform shifts and declining LVP. Inflator replacement sales had a 0.7pp negative impact on organic
growth in North America. South America grew organically by about 45%.

35

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
The 3.8% organic sales growth (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) from Autoliv’s companies in Europe was mainly driven by Volvo, Toyota
and VW. Offsetting effects were mainly from Opel.

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Net Sales
Gross profit
% of sales

S,G&A

% of sales

R,D&E net

% of sales

Other income (expense), net

% of sales

Operating income

% of sales

Interest expense, net
Income before taxes
Tax rate
Net income attributable to controlling interest from Continuing
   Operations
Earnings per share Continuing Operations, diluted 1, 2)

Years ended December 31

2017

$

8,137 
1,680 

2016

$

7,922 
1,628 

Change

20.6%  
(407)
(5.0)%  
(371)
(4.6)%  
(32)
(0.4)%  
860 
10.6%  
(54)
792 
25.8%  

586 

6.68 

20.6%
(394)
(5.0)%
(357)
(4.5)%
(35)
(0.4)%
831 
10.5%
(58)
784 
28.6%

558 

6.32 

2.7%
3.2%
0.0pp
3.3%
0.0pp
3.9%
0.1pp
(8.6)%
(0.0)pp
3.5%
0.1%
(6.9)%
1.0%
(2.8)pp

5.0%

5.7%

1)
2)

Assuming dilution and net of treasury shares.
Participating share awards with right to receive dividend equivalents are (under the two class method) excluded from the EPS calculation.

GROSS PROFIT

The  gross  profit  for  the  full  year  2017  increased  by  $52  million,  compared  to  the  prior  year,  as  a  result  of  higher  sales.  The  gross  margin  was  basically
unchanged compared to 2016, as improved operational performance and higher organic sales (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures), were offset
by costs related to investments for capacity and growth, as well as negative impact from raw material prices.

OPERATING INCOME

Operating  income  increased  by  around  $29  million  to  $860  million  and  the  operating  margin  increased  slightly  by  0.1pp  to  10.6%  compared  to  prior  year.  In
2017, the operating margin was negatively affected by the ongoing capacity alignments ($22 million), settlements of antitrust related matters ($18 million), higher
RD&E, net, ($14 million) to support growth.

Selling,  General  and  Administrative  (S,G&A)  expenses  increased  by  $13  million  compared  to  the  prior  year,  but  remained  flat  as  a  percentage  of  net  sales.
Research,  Development  & Engineering  (R,D&E) expenses,  net  increased  by $14  million compared  to  the  prior  year  to  support  growth  from prior  year’s  order
intake.

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

Interest expense, net decreased by $4 million to $54 million compared to 2016. The decrease relates to maturity of $105 million USPP in November 2017, and
higher interest income on centrally held USD cash in 2017 compared to 2016.

INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate in 2017 was 25.8% compared to 28.6% in 2016. The tax rate for 2017 excluding discrete tax items was 24.8% compared to 28.0% in 2016.
The tax rate for 2017 was impacted by several items including, reversal of the valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets, reasonable estimate of the
negative impact of U.S. tax reform (specifically the deemed repatriation of non-US earnings and the revaluation of U.S. deferred tax assets to the new lower U.S.
tax rate) compared to the 2016 tax rate.

NET INCOME AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

Net  income  from  continuing  operations  attributable  to  controlling  interest  was  $586  million,  an  increase  of  $28  million  from  2016.  Earnings  per  share  (EPS)
assuming dilution increased by 36 cents, or by 6%, to $6.68 compared to prior year. The main positive items affecting EPS were lower number of shares, lower
tax and higher operating income.

The  weighted  average  number  of  shares  outstanding  assuming  dilution  declined  to  87.7  million  compared  to  88.4  million  in  the  full  year  2016,  mainly  due  to
share repurchases.

36

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures

In this annual report we sometimes refer to non-U.S. GAAP measures that we and securities analysts use in measuring Autoliv’s performance.

We believe that these measures assist investors and management in analyzing trends in the Company’s business for the reasons given below. Investors should
not consider these non-U.S. GAAP measures as substitutes for, but rather as additions, to financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

These non-U.S. GAAP measures have been identified, as applicable, in each section of this annual report with tabular presentations below, reconciling them to
U.S. GAAP.

It should be noted that these measures, as defined, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

ORGANIC SALES

We analyze the Company’s sales trends and performance as changes in “organic sales growth”, because the Company currently generates approximately three
quarters of net sales in currencies other than the reporting currency (i.e. U.S. dollars) and currency rates have proven to be rather volatile. We also use organic
sales to reflect the fact that the Company has made several acquisitions and divestitures.

Organic  sales  present  the  increase  or  decrease  in  the  overall  U.S.  dollar  net  sales  on  a  comparable  basis,  allowing  separate  discussions  of  the  impact  of
acquisitions/divestitures and exchange rates.

The following tabular reconciliation presents changes in “organic sales growth” as reconciled to the change in total U.S. GAAP net sales.

COMPONENTS IN SALES INCREASE/DECREASE (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

2018 VS. 2017
Reported change
Currency effects 2)
Organic change

2017 VS. 2016
Reported change
Currency effects 2)
Organic change

1)
2)

Rest of Asia.
Effects from currency translations.

China

%    

$

Japan

%    

$

    %    

7.1    $ 101.0     
30.9     
2.2     
70.1     
4.9     

5.2    $ 40.9     
1.6      12.8     
3.6 

   28.1 

RoA 1)

Americas

Europe

Total

$

    %    
6.9    $ 54.9      12.3    $ 299.9     
1.3      10.9     
(24.2)    
5.6 

   324.1 

   13.3 

   44.0 

(1.0)    

$

    %    

$

    %    

$

1.7    $ 44.7     
4.5      119.9     
(75.2)   
(2.8)   

6.7    $ 541.4 
1.9      150.3 
   391.1
4.8 

China

Japan

RoA 1)

Americas

Europe

Total

%    

$

    %    

$

    %    

$

    %    

$

    %    

$

    %    

$

2.6    $ 35.8     
(1.6)    
(22.1)    
4.2      57.9      12.8 

9.5    $ 68.4     
(3.3)     (23.9)    

   92.3 

8.8    $ 63.7     
3.0      21.6     
5.8 

   42.1 

(4.4)   $ (112.8)    
0.1     
1.3     
(4.5)    (114.1)   

6.3    $ 160.1     
2.5      63.4     
3.8 

   96.7 

2.7    $ 215.2 
0.5      40.3 
   174.9
2.2 

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP MEASURE TO “OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL” (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

DECEMBER 31
Total current assets Continuing Operations
Total current liabilities Continuing Operations
Working capital
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term debt
Derivative (asset) and liability, current
Dividends payable
Operating working capital

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP MEASURE TO “NET DEBT” (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

DECEMBER 31
Short-term debt
Long-term debt
Total debt
Cash and cash equivalents
Debt issuance cost/Debt-related derivatives, net
Net debt

37

  $

  $

  $

  $

2018

2017

3,285.4    $
(2,865.5)  
419.9   
(615.8)  
620.7   
(0.8)  
54.0   
478.0    $

3,557.5 
(2,086.4)
1,471.1 
(959.5)
19.7 
(2.1)
52.2 
581.4

2018

2017

620.7    $

1,609.0   
2,229.7   
(615.8)  
4.9   
1,618.8    $

19.7 
1,310.7 
1,330.4 
(959.5)
(2.5)
368.4

 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
 
   
   
   
  
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL

Due to the need to optimize cash generation to create value for our shareholders, management focuses on operationally derived working capital as defined in
the table above.

The reconciling items used to derive this measure are, by contrast, managed as part of our overall management of cash and debt, but they are not part of the
responsibilities of day-to-day operations’ management.

NET DEBT

As part of efficiently managing the Company’s overall cost of funds, we routinely enter into “debt-related derivatives” (DRD) as part of our debt management.

Creditors  and  credit  rating  agencies  use  net  debt  adjusted  for  DRD  in  their  analyses  of  the  Company’s  debt  and  therefore  we  provide  this  non-U.S.  GAAP
measure. DRD are fair value adjustments to the carrying value of the underlying debt. Also included in the DRD is the unamortized fair value adjustment related
to  discontinued  fair  value  hedges,  which  will  be  amortized  over  the  remaining  life  of  the  debt.  By  adjusting  for  DRD,  the  total  financial  liability  of  net  debt  is
disclosed without grossing debt up with currency or interest fair values.

ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN AND ADJUSTED EPS

Adjusted  operating  margin  and  adjusted  EPS  are  non-GAAP  measures  our  management  uses  to  evaluate  our  business,  because  we  believe  they  assist
investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that are non-operational or non-recurring
in nature (such as costs related to capacity alignments, costs related to antitrust matters, separation costs, impairment charges and for EPS unusual tax items)
and that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance and underlying business trends. Adjusted operating margin and adjusted EPS should
be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, including operating margin
and EPS.

ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT EPS)
Operating income
Operating margin, %
Income before taxes from Continuing
   Operations
Net income attributable to controlling
   interest from Continuing Operations
Capital employed
Return on capital employed, % 2, 6)
Return on total equity, % 3, 6)
Earnings per share Continuing
   Operations, diluted 4, 5)
Total parent shareholders' equity per share

2018

Reported
(U.S.
GAAP)

Adjust-
ments 1)   

Non-
U.S.
GAAP    

Reported
(U.S.
GAAP)

2017

Adjust-
ments 1)    

Reported
(U.S.
GAAP)

2016
Adjust-
ments
1)

  $

686    $
7.9     

222    $ 908    $
2.6      10.5     

860    $
10.6     

40    $
0.5     

 $

831    $
10.5     

35    $
0.4     

Non-
U.S.
GAAP  
900 
11.1 

Non-
U.S.
GAAP  
866 
10.9 

  $

612    $

222    $ 834 

 $

792 

 $

40 

 $

832 

 $

784 

 $

35 

 $

819 

  $
376    $
  $ 3,516    $
16.8     
13.0     

 $ 596 
 $ 3,736 

220 
220 
5.2      22.0   
7.3      20.3   

 $
586 
 $ 4,538 

 $
 $

n/a   
n/a   

39 
39 
n/a   
n/a   

 $
625 
 $ 4,577 
n/a 
n/a 

 $
558 
 $ 4,225 

 $
 $

n/a   
n/a   

27 
27 
n/a   
n/a   

 $
585 
 $ 4,252 
n/a 
n/a 

  $
4.31    $
  $ 21.63    $

2.52 

 $ 6.83 

 $

6.68 

2.52 

 $ 24.15 

 $ 46.38 

 $

 $

0.44 

 $

7.12 

 $

6.32 

 $ 0.31 

 $ 6.63 

0.44 

 $ 46.82 

 $ 41.69 

 $ 0.31 

 $ 42.00

1)

2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Adjustments  for  capacity  alignments  and  antitrust  matters  during  2016-2018  and  separation  of  our  business  segments  during  2018.  See  table  below  for  a
disaggregation of these costs.
Operating income and income from equity method investments Continuing Operations, relative to average capital employed.
Income from Continuing Operations relative to average total equity.
Assuming dilution and net of treasury shares.
Participating share awards with right to receive dividend equivalents are (under the two-class method) excluded from the EPS calculation.
The Company has decided not to recalculate prior periods since the distribution of Veoneer had a significant impact on capital employed making the comparison less
meaningful.

38

 
 
 
 
     
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
  
   
 
   
 
 
 
Items included in Non-GAAP adjustments

Capacity alignment
Antitrust related matters
Separation costs
Total adjustments to operating income
Tax on non-U.S. GAAP adjustments 1)
Total adjustments to Income from Continuing
   operations

Weighted average number of shares outstanding
   - diluted
Return on capital employed 2, 3, 6)

Adjustment Return on Capital employed, %

Return on total equity 4, 5, 6)

Adjustment Return on Total equity, %

$

$

$

$

$

Full Year 2018

Full Year 2017

Full Year 2016

Adjustment
Millions

Adjustment
Per share  

Adjustment
Millions

Adjustment
Per share  

Adjustment
Millions

  $

  $

5 
212 
5 
222 
(2)

0.05    $
2.43   
0.06   
2.54    $
(0.02)  

220 

$

2.52 

$

22    $
18     
-     
40    $
(1)    

39 

$

0.24    $
0.21   
-   
0.45    $
(0.01)  

0.44 

$

Adjustment
Per share  
0.24 
0.16 
- 
0.40 
(0.09)

21    $
14     
-     
35    $
(8)    

27 

$

0.31 

87.3   

87.7   

88.4 

222 

5.2%    

220 

7.3%    

n/a     

n/a     

n/a     

n/a     

n/a     
n/a     

n/a     
n/a     

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

The tax is calculated based on the tax laws in the respective jurisdiction(s) of the adjustment(s).
After adjustment for annualized non-U.S. GAAP EBIT adjustment.
Operating income and income from equity method investments Continuing Operations, relative to average capital employed.
Income from Continuing Operations relative to average total equity.
After adjustment for annualized non-U.S. GAAP Net income adjustment.
The Company  has decided  not to recalculate  prior periods  since the distribution  of Veoneer  had  significant  impact  on capital  employed  making the  comparison  less
meaningful.

QUARTERLY 2018 RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED “OPERATING MARGIN” AND ADJUSTED “EPS”

First quarter 2018
Adjust-
ments
1)

Reported
U.S. GAAP    

Non-
U.S. GAAP    

Reported
U.S. GAAP    

Non-
U.S. GAAP    

Reported
U.S. GAAP    

Non-
U.S. GAAP    

Reported
U.S. GAAP    

Second quarter 2018
Adjust-
ments
1)

Third quarter 2018
Adjust-
ments
1)

Fourth quarter 2018
Adjust-
ments
1)

Non-
U.S. GAAP  

Operating
   margin, %
EPS Continuing
   operations,
   diluted 2,3)

10.9     

0.0     

10.9     

10.4     

0.0     

10.4     

9.5     

0.0     

9.5     

1.0     

9.9     

10.9 

  $

1.82    $ 0.01    $

1.83    $

2.20    $ 0.02    $

2.22    $

1.34    $ 0.01    $

1.35    $

(1.06)   $ 2.48    $

1.42  

1)
2)
3)

Adjustments for capacity alignments and antitrust matters and separation of our business segments.
Assuming dilution and net of treasury shares.
Participating share awards with right to receive dividend equivalents are (under the two class method) excluded from the EPS calculation.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

2018

  $

  $

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

591   
(628)  
(245)  
(62)  
(344)  
960   
616   

$

$

936   
(697)  
(566)  
60   

(267)
1,227   
960   

$

$

868 
(726)
(200)
(49)
(107)
1,334 
1,227

Cash  flow  from  operations,  together  with  available  financial  resources  and  credit  facilities,  are  expected  to  be  sufficient  to  fund  Autoliv’s  anticipated  working
capital requirements, capital expenditures and future dividend payments. Cash flow items are presented on a consolidated basis including both Continuing and
Discontinued Operations.

39

 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
     
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
 
 
     
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
     
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by operating activiti es was $591 million in 2018 compared to $936 million in 2017 and $868 million in 2016. The decrease compared to previous
year was primarily related to costs related to the separation of our business segments and changes in operating assets and liabilities due to increased sales. We
estimate that f or 2018 $806 millions of the $591 million was attributable to Continuing Operations compared to $870 million of the $936 million for 2017 and
$822 million of the $868 million in 2016.

While management of cash and debt is important to the overall business, it is not part of the operational management’s day-to-day responsibilities. We therefore
focus  on  operationally  derived  working  capital  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  and  have  set  a  policy  that  the  operating  working  capital
should not exceed 10% of the last 12-month net sales.

At  December  31,  2018,  operating  working  capital  for  Continuing  Operations  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures)  amounted  to  $478  million
corresponding  to  5.5%  of  net  sales  compared  to  $581  million  and  7.1%,  respectively,  at  December  31,  2017,  and  compared  to  $488  million  and  6.2%,
respectively, at December 31, 2016.

Days receivables outstanding (see Glossary and Definitions for definition) were 71 at December 31, 2018, compared to 76 in 2017 and 70 in 2016. Factoring
agreements did not have any material effect on days receivables outstanding for 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Days inventory outstanding (see Glossary and Definitions for definition) were 35 at December 31, 2018, compared to 35 in 2017 and 32 in 2016.

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

In  2018,  2017  and  2016  cash  used  in  investing  activities  in  both  Continuing  and  Discontinued  operations  amounted  to  $628  million,  $697  million  and  $726
million, respectively.  

For 2018 $486 million of the $628 million was attributable to Continuing Operations compared to $465 million of the $697 million in 2017 and $399 million of the
$726 million in 2016. Our investing activities primarily consists of investments in property, plant and equipment and acquisition of businesses, net of cash. For
further information, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Cash generated by operating activities continued to sufficiently cover capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment.

Capital expenditures, gross from in Continuing Operations was $488 million in 2018, $470 million in 2017 and $404 million in 2016, corresponding to 5.6%, 5.8%,
and 5.1% of net sales, respectively.

Depreciation and amortization in Continuing Operations totaled $342 million in 2018 compared to $307 million in 2017 and $280 million in 2016.

The projected capital expenditures as percent of sales, net, for the full year 2019 is expected to be lower than for full year 2018 of 5.6%.

During  the  years  2016  through  2018,  investments  in production  capacity  to  support  further  growth  and  vertical  integration  continued.  Major  investments  were
mainly made in Europe, North America and China.

In 2018, expansion of facilities in Europe was commenced for manufacturing of seatbelts and airbags to meet increased demand. In North America the higher
investments were mainly related to production equipment and buildings to increase capacity for new program launches. In addition, in China, large investments
were made to increase manufacturing capacity for airbag and seatbelt products.

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Cash  used  in  financing  activities  amounted  to  $245  million,  $566  million  and  $200  million  for  the  years  2018,  2017  and  2016,  respectively.  In  2018  the  net
issuance of debt amounted to $938 million, in 2017 net repayment of debt amounted to $209 million, and in 2016 net repayment of debt amounted to $3 million.
In  2018,  the  Company  paid  dividends  of  $214  million,  compared  with  dividends  paid  of  $209  million  in  2017  and  $203  million  in  2016.  In  2017  the  Company
repurchased common shares amounting to $157 million.  In 2018, the Company capitalized Veoneer with $972 million prior to spin-off.

INCOME TAXES

The Company has reserves for taxes that may become payable in future periods as a result of tax audits. At any given time, the Company is undergoing tax
audits  covering  multiple  years  in  several  tax  jurisdictions.  Ultimate  outcomes  are  uncertain  but  could,  in  future  periods,  have  a  significant  impact  on  the
Company’s cash flows. See discussions of income taxes under Significant Accounting Policies in this section, Note 2 and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements included herein.

40

 
 
 
 
PENSION ARRANGEME NTS

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering nearly half of the U.S. employees. In a prior year, the Company froze participation in the U.S. plans to
exclude employees hired after December 31, 2003. Many of the Company’s non-U.S. employees are also covered by pension arrangements.

At December 31, 2018, the Company’s pension liability (i.e. the actual funded status) for its U.S. and non-U.S. plans was $198 million compared to $207 million
one  year  earlier.  The  plans  had  a  net  unamortized  actuarial  loss  of  $82  million  recorded  in  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  (Loss)  Income  in  the
Consolidated Statement of Equity at December 31, 2018, compared to $92 million at December 31, 2017. The decrease in the actuarial loss was mainly due to
increase in the discount rate for the U.S. plans. The amortization of this loss is expected to be $2 million in 2019.

The liability decrease in 2018 of $9 million was mainly due to the increase in discount rates, partly offset by lower than expected plan assets return. The liability
decrease in 2017 of $12 million was mainly due to the curtailment impact of the plan freeze in the U.S., partly offset by a decrease in the discount rate for many
of the plans and foreign currency translation effects of the non-U.S. plans.

Pension expense associated with the defined benefit plans was $20 million in 2018, $29 million in 2017 and $24 million in 2016 and is expected to be $26 million
in 2019. The decrease in pension expense in 2018 of $9 million was mainly due to lower amortization of the unrecognized losses resulting from the amendment
of the U.S. defined benefit plan. The increase in pension expense in 2017 of $5 million was mainly due to a prior year decrease in discount rates.

The Company contributed $16 million to its defined benefit plans in 2018, $13 million in 2017 and $13 million in 2016. The Company expects to contribute $14
million to these plans in 2019 and is currently projecting a yearly funding at approximately the same level in the subsequent years.

For further information about retirement plans see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

SHAREHOLDER RETURNS

Total cash dividends paid were $214 million in 2018, $209 million in 2017 and $203 million in 2016. The Company has raised the dividend from 54 cents per
share in 2015 to 62 cents per share in 2018 (see following table). The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of 62 cents per share for the first quarter and
62 cents per share for the second quarter of 2019. The annualized dividend amount of $216 million, is based on 62 cents per share and the number of shares
outstanding at December 31, 2018.

The Company did not repurchase any shares during 2018. During the second quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased 1.4 million shares for cash of $157
million,  including  commissions.  There  were  no  share  repurchases  in  2016.  In  total,  Autoliv  has  repurchased  44.5  million  shares  between  May  2000  and
December  2018  for  cash  of  $2,498  million,  including  commissions.  The  maximum  number  of  shares  that  are  available  to  be  purchased  under  the  stock
repurchase program at December 31, 2018 is 3.0 million. There is no expiration date for the share repurchase authorization in order to provide management
flexibility in the Company’s share repurchases. For further information see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

DIVIDENDS PAID
1 st Quarter
2 nd Quarter
3 rd Quarter
4 th Quarter

1)

Declared.

EQUITY

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

  $

0.54    $
0.56     
0.56     
0.56     

0.56    $
0.58     
0.58     
0.58     

0.58    $
0.60     
0.60     
0.60     

0.60    $
0.62     
0.62     
0.62     

0.62  1)
0.62  1)

During 2018, total equity decreased by 54.5% or $2,273 million to $1,897 million. This was mainly due to $2,123 million related to the spin-off of Venoeer, $217
million in dividends and $150 million currency translation effects. The decrease was partly offset by $184 million from net income.

During  2017,  total  equity  increased  by  6.2%  or  $243  million  to  $4,169  million.  This  was  mainly  due  to  a  net  income  of  $303  million,  positive  foreign  currency
translation  adjustments  of  $272  million,  $24  million  due  to  changes  in  pension  liabilities  and  a  $19  million  increase  from  stock  based  compensation.  These
effects were partly offset by $210 million for dividends and share repurchases of $157 million.

IMPACT OF INFLATION AND RAW MATERIAL PRICES

Inflation has generall y not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. In many growth markets, inflation is relatively
high, especially labor inflation. We have managed to offset this negative effect mainly by labor productivity improvements. However, no assurance can be given
that this will continue to be possible going forward.

The Company has experienced headwind in raw material prices since 2017.

41

 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
    
   
    
 
 
 
 
PERSONNEL

During the past three years, total headcount (permanent employees and temporary personnel) has risen by 11% from the beginning of 2016 to 66,764 at the end
of 2018. This reflects the rebound in the cyclical automotive business as well as the combined effect of long-term growth of global LVP, strong demand for safer
vehicles, technology development and Autoliv’s market share gains, which all drive the need for additional manufacturing and R,D&E personnel.

During 2018, headcount increased by 2,214 people, compared to 1,035 people during 2017. During 2016, headcount increased by 3,507 people. No acquisitions
during the periods have affected the number of employees.

At the end of 2018, 80% of total headcount was in BCC compared to 78% at the beginning of 2017. Furthermore, 71% of total headcount at December 31, 2018
was  direct  workers  in  manufacturing  compared  to  75%  at  the  beginning  of  2016,  while  14%  of  total  headcount  at  December  31,  2018  were  temporary
employees, compared to 15% at the beginning of 2016.

Compensation to directors and executive officers is reported, as is customary for U.S. public companies, in Autoliv’s proxy statement, which will be available to
shareholders in March 2019.

Treasury Activities

CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

In June 2018, the Company priced and issued 5-year notes for a total of €500 million in the Eurobond market. The notes carry a coupon of 0.75%

In July 2016, the Company refinanced its existing revolving credit facility (RCF) of $1,100 million. The facility, syndicated among 14 banks, originally maturing in
July 2021 with two extension options, each for an additional year. The extension options have been used by the Company and the maturity date for the facility
has been extended to July 2023. The Company pays a commitment fee on the undrawn amount of 0.08%, representing 35% of the applicable margin, which is
0.225% (given the  Company’s rating of “A-” from S&P Global Ratings at December 31, 2018)).  Borrowings under the facility are unsecured  and bear interest
based on the relevant LIBOR or IBOR rate.

At December 31, 2018, the Company’s unutilized long-term credit facilities were $1.1 billion, represented by the RCF. This facility is not subject to any financial
covenants nor is any other substantial financing of Autoliv. The Company had a net debt position (see section Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures) at year
end 2018 and 2017 of $1,619 million and $368 million, respectively.

In  2014,  the  Company  issued  and  sold  $1.25  billion  of  long-term  debt  securities  in  a  U.S.  Private  Placement  pursuant  to  a  Note  Purchase  and  Guaranty
Agreement dated April 23, 2014, by and among Autoliv ASP Inc., the Company and the purchasers listed therein. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements included herein for additional information.

During 2018 and 2017, the Company sold receivables and discounted notes related to selected customers. These factoring arrangements increase cash while
reducing  accounts  receivable  and  customer  risks.  At  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  had  received  $193  million  for  sold  receivables  without  recourse  and
discounted notes with a discount of $6 million during the year, compared to $134 million at year end 2017 with a discount of $3 million recorded in Other non-
operating items, net.

Autoliv has a long-term credit rating from Standard and Poor’s of A- which is in line with the Company’s objective of maintaining a strong investment grade rating.

NUMBER OF SHARES

At December 31, 2018, 87.1 million shares were outstanding (net of 15.7 million treasury shares), a 0.2% increase from 87.0 million one year earlier.

The number of shares outstanding is expected to increase by 0.4 million when all Restricted Stock Units (RSU) and Performance Shares (PSs) vest and if all
stock options (SOs) to key employees are exercised, see Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

In  total,  Autoliv  has  repurchased  44.5  million  shares  under  its  stock  repurchase  program  between  May  2000  and  December  2017  for  cash  of  $2,498  million,
including  commissions.  The  average  cost  per  share  for  all  repurchased  shares  to  date  is  $56.13.  Purchases  can  be  made  from  time  to  time  as  market  and
business  conditions  warrant  in  open  market,  negotiated  or  block  transactions.  There  is  no  expiration  date  for  the  repurchase  program  in  order  to  provide
management flexibility in the Company’s share repurchases. No stock repurchases were made in 2018.

42

 
Contractual Obligations and Commitments

AGGREGATE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS 1)
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Debt obligations
Fixed-interest obligations
Operating lease obligations
Pension contribution requirements 2)
Other non-current liabilities reflected on the
   balance sheet
Total

Total

    Less than 1 year    

Payments due by Period
1-3 years    

  $

2,235    $
285     
186     
14     

8     
2,728    $

  $

621    $
50     
42     
14     

-     
727    $

275    $
87     
65     
-     

-     
427    $

3-5 years     More than 5 years  
767 
75 
33 
- 

573    $
72     
46     
-     

-     
691    $

8 
883

1)
2 )

Excludes contingent liabilities arising from litigation, arbitration, regulatory actions or income taxes.
Expected contributions for funded and unfunded defined benefit plans exclude payments beyond 2019.

Contractual  obligations  include  debt,  lease  and  purchase  obligations  that  are  enforceable  and  legally  binding  on  the  Company.  Non-controlling  interest  and
restructuring  obligations  are  not  included  in  this  table.  The  major  employee  obligations  as  a  result  of  restructuring  are  disclosed  in  Note  12  to  Consolidated
Financial Statements included herein.

Debt obligations: For material contractual provisions, see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Fixed-interest obligations: These obligations include interest on debt and credit agreements relating to periods after December 31, 2018, excluding fees on the
revolving credit facility and interest on debts with no defined amortization plan.

Operating  lease  obligations:  The  Company  leases  certain  offices,  manufacturing  and  research  buildings,  machinery,  automobiles  and  data  processing  and
other equipment.  Such operating  leases,  some of which are non-cancelable  and include renewals,  expire on various dates.  See Note 19 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements included herein.

Unconditional purchase obligations: There are no unconditional purchase obligations other than short-term obligations related to inventory, services, tooling,
and property, plant and equipment purchased in the ordinary course of business.

Purchase agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business do not generally include fixed quantities. Quantities and delivery dates are
established  in  “call  off  plans”  accessible  electronically  for  all  customers  and  suppliers  involved.  Communicated  “call  off  plans”  for  production  material  from
suppliers are normally reflected in equivalent commitments from Autoliv customers.

Pension contribution requirements: The Company sponsors defined benefit plans that cover a significant portion of our U.S. employees and certain non-U.S.
employees. The pension plans in the U.S. are funded in conformity with the minimum funding requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Funding for
our pension plans in other countries is based upon plan provisions, actuarial recommendations and/or statutory requirements.

In  2019,  the  expected  contribution  to  all  plans,  including  direct  payments  to  retirees,  is  $14  million,  of  which  the  major  contribution  is  $7  million  for  our  U.S.
pension plans. Due to volatility associated with future changes in interest rates and plan asset returns, the Company cannot predict with reasonable reliability the
timing and amounts of future funding requirements, and therefore the above excludes payments beyond 2019. We may elect to make contributions in excess of
the  minimum  funding  requirements  for  the  U.S.  plans  in  response  to  investment  performance  and  changes  in  interest  rates,  or  when  we  believe  that  it  is
financially advantageous to do so and based on other capital requirements.

Excluded  from  the  above  are  expected  contributions  of  $0.4  million  due  in  2019  with  respect  to  our  other  post-employment  benefit  (OPEB)  plans,  which
represent the expected benefit payments to participants as costs are incurred. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Other non-current liabilities reflected on the balance sheet: These consist mainly of local governmental liabilities.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or future effect on its financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.

Risks and Risk Management

The Company is exposed to several categories of risks. They can broadly be categorized as operational risks, strategic risks and financial risks. Some of the
major risks in each category are described below. There are also other risks that could have a material effect on the Company’s results and financial position and
the description below is not complete but should be read in conjunction with the discussion of risks described in Item 1A above, which contains a description of
our material risks.

43

 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
As  described  below,  the  Company  has  taken  several  mitigating  actions,  applied  numerous  strategies,  adopted  policies,  and  introduced  control  a  nd reporting
systems to reduce and mitigate these risks. In addition, the Company from time to time identifies and evaluates emerging or changing risks to the Company in
order to ensure that identified risks and related risk management are updated in this fast moving environment.

Operational Risks

LIGHT VEHICLE PRODUCTION

Around  30%  of  Autoliv’s  costs  are  fixed;  therefore,  short-term  earnings  are  dependent  on  sales  volumes  and  highly  dependent  on  capacity  utilization  in  the
Company’s plants.

Global LVP is an indicator of the Company’s sales development. Ultimately, however, sales are determined by the production levels for the individual vehicle
models for which Autoliv is a supplier (see Dependence on Customers). The Company’s sales are split over several hundred contracts covering approximately
1,300  vehicle  models,  this  moderates  the  effect  of  changes  in  vehicle  demand  of  individual  countries  and  regions  as  well  as  production  issues.  The  risk  of
fluctuating  sales  has  also  been  mitigated  by  Autoliv’s  rapid  expansion  in  Asia  and  other  growth  markets,  which  has  reduced  the  Company’s  former  high
dependence on sales in Europe to a diversified mix with Europe, the Americas and Asia each accounting for roughly 30% to 40% of our 2018 total sales.

It  is  the  Company’s  strategy  to  reduce  the  risk  of  fluctuating  LVP  by  using  a  high  number  of  temporary  employees  instead  of  permanent  employees  in direct
production.  During  2018,  2017  and  2016,  the  level  of  temporary  employees  in  relation  to  total  headcount  in  direct  production  was  17%,  15%  and  15%
respectively. To reduce the potential impact of unusual fluctuations in the production of vehicle models supplied by the Company, such as during the financial
crisis of 2008 and 2009, it is also necessary for the Company to be prepared to quickly adapt the level of permanent employees as well as fixed cost production
capacity.

PRICING PRESSURE

Pricing pressure from customers is an inherent part of the automotive components business. The extent of price reductions varies from year to year and takes
the form of one time give backs, reductions in direct sales prices or discounted reimbursements for engineering work.

In response, Autoliv is continuously engaged in efforts to reduce costs and to provide customers added value by developing new products. Generally, the speed
by  which  these  cost-reduction  programs  generate  results  will,  to  a  large  extent,  determine  the  future  profitability  of  the  Company.  The  various  cost-reduction
programs are, to a considerable extent, interrelated. This interrelationship makes it difficult to isolate the impact of costs on any single program, therefore, we
monitor key measures such as costs in relation to sales and productivity.

COMPONENT COSTS

Changes in component costs and raw material prices could have a major impact on our margins, since the cost of direct materials was approximately 5 0 % of
sales in 201 8 .

The main raw materials the Company requires for its operations are textiles, plastic, steel and non-ferrous metals . Worsening headwinds on raw materials in
2018 were primarily caused by additional import tariffs imposed by the United States on steel and aluminum products, other tariffs and escalating trade conflicts
impacting raw material markets and creating uncertainty.

We take several actions to mitigate higher raw material prices, such as competitive sourcing and looking for alternative materials. However, should these actions
not be sufficient to offset component price increases, our earnings could be materially impacted.

LEGAL

The Company is involved from time to time in regulatory, commercial and contractual legal proceedings that may be significant, and the Company’s business
may  suffer  as  a  result  of  adverse  outcomes  of  current  or  future  legal  proceedings.  These  claims  may  include,  without  limitation,  commercial  or  contractual
disputes,  including  disputes  with  the  Company’s  suppliers  and  customers,  intellectual  property  matters,  alleged  violations  of  laws,  rules  or  regulations,
governmental investigations, personal injury claims, product liability claims, environmental issues, tax and customs matters, and employment matters.

The Company is currently subject to an ongoing antitrust investigation by the European Commission, as well as civil litigation alleging anti-competitive conduct
related to antitrust investigations concluded in various other jurisdictions. Regulatory actions and government investigations, such as these antitrust matters, may
seek to impose significant fines and or limit the Company’s operations.  It is difficult for the Company to predict the possibility that such proceedings are initiated,
and  their  ultimate  outcome  and  duration.  The  EC  previously  concluded  a  discrete  portion  of  its  investigation  in  November  2017  and  imposed  a  fine  on  the
Company. In December 2018, we accrued $210 million based on our belief that the EC will seek to impose a fine in connection with the remaining portion of the
EC’s investigation.

A substantial legal liability or adverse regulatory outcome and the substantial cost to defend the litigation or regulatory proceedings may have an adverse effect
on the Company’s business, operating results, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.

44

No assurances can be given that such proceedings and claims will not have a m aterial adverse impact on the Company’s profitability and consolidated financial
position  or  that  reserves  or  insurance  will  mitigate  such  impact.  See  Note  1  8 to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included  herein  and  Item  3  –  Legal
Proceedings.

PRODUCT WARRANTY AND RECALLS

If our products are alleged to fail to perform as expected or are defective, the Company may be exposed to various claims for damages and compensation. Such
claims  may  result  in  costs  and  other  losses  to  the  Company  even  where  the  relevant  product  is  eventually  found  to  have  functioned  properly.  If  a  product
(actually or allegedly) fails to perform as expected or is defective, we may face warranty and recall claims. If such actual or alleged failure or defect results, or is
alleged to result, in bodily injury and/or property damage, we may also face product liability and other claims. The Company may experience material warranty,
recall, product or other liability claims or losses in the future, and the Company may incur significant cost to defend against such claims. The Company may be
required  to  participate  in  a  recall  involving  its  products.  Each  vehicle  manufacturer  has  its  own  practices  regarding  product  recalls  and  other  product  liability
actions  relating  to  its  suppliers.  Government  safety  regulators  also  have  policies  and  practices  with  respect  to  recalls.  As  suppliers  become  more  integrally
involved in the vehicle design process and assume more of the vehicle assembly functions, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly looking to their suppliers for
contribution  when  faced  with  recalls  and  product  liability  claims.  In  addition,  with  global  platforms  and  procedures,  vehicle  manufacturers  are  increasingly
evaluating  our  quality  performance  on  a global basis.  Any one  or  more quality,  warranty  or other  recall  issue(s), including  the  ones  affecting  few  units and/or
having a small financial impact, may cause a vehicle manufacturer to implement measures which may have a severe impact on the Company’s operations, such
as a temporary or prolonged suspension of new orders or the Company’s ability to bid for new business.

In addition, over time, there is a risk that the number of vehicles affected by a failure or defect will increase significantly (as would the Company’s costs), since
our products often use global designs and are increasingly based on or utilize the same or similar parts, components or solutions.

Although  quality  has  always  been  a  central  focus  in  the  automotive  industry,  especially  for  safety  products,  our  customers  and  regulators  have  become
increasingly attentive to quality with even less tolerance for any deviations, which has resulted in an increase in the number of automotive recalls. This trend is
likely to continue as automobile manufacturers introduce even stricter quality requirements and regulating agencies and other authorities increase the level of
scrutiny  given  to vehicle  safety  issues.  A warranty  recall  or a product  liability  claim brought  against  the  Company  in excess  of the  Company’s  insurance  may
have a material adverse effect on its business and/or financial results. Vehicle manufacturers are also increasingly requiring their external suppliers to guarantee
or warrant their products and bear the costs of repair and replacement of such products under new vehicle warranties. A vehicle manufacturer may attempt to
hold the Company responsible for some or all of the repair or replacement costs of defective products under new vehicle warranties when the product supplied
did  not  perform  as  represented.  Additionally,  a  customer  may  not  allow  us  to  bid  for  expiring  or  new  business  until  certain  remedial  steps  have  been  taken.
Accordingly, the future costs of warranty claims by the Company’s customers may be material.

The  Company’s  warranty  reserves  are  based  upon  management’s  best  estimates  of  amounts  necessary  to  settle  future  and  existing  claims.  Management
regularly evaluates the appropriateness of these reserves and adjusts them when we believe it is appropriate to do so. However, the final amounts determined to
be due could differ materially from the Company’s recorded estimates. We believe our established reserves are adequate to cover potential warranty settlements
typically seen in our business.

The Company’s strategy is to follow a stringent procedure when developing new products and technologies and to apply a proactive “zero-defect” quality policy
(see  section  Quality  Management).  In  addition,  the  Company  carries  insurance  for  potential  recall  and  product  liability  claims  at  coverage  levels  that
management believes are generally sufficient to cover the risks based on the Company’s prior claims experience. However, such insurance may not be sufficient
to cover every possible claim that can arise in the Company’s businesses, now or in the future, or may not always will be available should the Company, now or
in the future, wish to extend, renew, increase or otherwise adjust such insurance. Management’s decision regarding what insurance to procure is also impacted
by the cost for such insurance. As a result, the Company may face material losses in excess of the insurance coverage procured. A substantial recall or liability
in excess of coverage levels could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Most of the Company’s manufacturing processes consist of the assembly of components. As a result, the environmental impact from the Company’s plants is
generally modest. While the Company’s businesses from time to time are subject to environmental investigations, there are no material environmental-related
cases pending against the Company. Therefore, Autoliv does not incur (or expect to incur) any material costs or capital expenditures associated with maintaining
facilities  compliant  with  U.S.  or  non-U.S.  environmental  requirements.  To  reduce  environmental  risk,  the  Company  has  implemented  an  environmental
management system in all plants globally and has adopted an environmental policy (see corporate website www.autoliv.com).

Autoliv  is  subject  to  a  number  of  environmental  and  occupational  health  and  safety  laws  and  regulations.  Such  requirements  are  complex  and  are  generally
becoming more stringent over time. There can be no assurance that these requirements will not change in the future, or that we will at all times be in compliance
with all such requirements and regulations, despite our intention to be. The Company may also find itself subject, possibly due to changes in legislation or other
regulation,  to  environmental  liabilities  based  on  the  activities  of  its  predecessor  entities  or  of  businesses  acquired.  Such  liability  could  be  based  on  activities
which are not related to the Company’s current activities.

TRADE

45

 
Autoliv is subject to various international trade regulations and regimes and changes in these regimes could lead to increased compliance costs and costs of raw
materials and other components. In addition, political conditions leading to trade conflicts an d the imposition of tariffs or other trade barriers between countries in
which we do business could increase our costs of doing business.

Strategic Risks

REGULATIONS

In addition to vehicle production, the Company’s market is driven by the safety content per vehicle, which is affected by new regulations and new vehicle rating
programs, in addition to consumer demand for new safety technologies.

The most important regulations are the seatbelt installation laws that exist in all vehicle-producing countries. Many countries also have strict enforcement laws on
the wearing of seatbelts. Another significant vehicle safety regulation is the U.S. federal law that, since 1997, requires frontal airbags for both the driver and the
front-seat passenger in all new vehicles sold in the U.S. In 2007, the U.S. adopted new regulations for side-impact protection which now have been fully phased-
in. China introduced a vehicle rating program in 2006, and Latin America introduced a similar program in 2010 followed by ASEAN NCAP in Southeast Asia in
2011. The United States upgraded its vehicle rating program in 2010 and Europe upgraded the Euro NCAP rating system during 2018. Euro NCAP has already
initiated the next upgrade, which will be fully implemented by 2025. Japan and South Korea are continuously upgrading their respective vehicle rating programs,
JCAP and KNCAP respectively. There are also other plans for improved automotive safety, both in these countries and many other countries that could affect the
Company’s market.

However, there can be no assurance that changes in regulations will not adversely affect the demand for the Company’s products or, at least, result in a slower
increase in the demand for them.

DEPENDENCE ON CUSTOMERS

In 2018, the five largest vehicle manufacturers accounted for 49% of global LVP and the ten largest manufacturers for 74%.

As a result of this highly consolidated market, the Company is dependent on a relatively small number of customers with strong purchasing power.

In  2018,  the  Company’s  five  largest  customers  accounted  for  50%  of  revenues  and  the  ten  largest  customers  for  79%  of  revenues.  For  a  list  of  the  largest
customers, see Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Our largest customer contract accounted  for around 2% of sales in 2018. Although business with every major customer is split into at least several contracts
(usually  one  contract  per  vehicle  platform)  and  although  the  customer  base  has  become  more  balanced  and  diversified  as  a  result  of  Autoliv’s  significant
expansion  in  China  and  other  rapidly-growing  markets,  the  loss  of  all  business  from  a  major  customer  (whether  by  a  cancellation  of  existing  contracts  or  not
awarding Autoliv new business), the consolidation of one or more major customers or a bankruptcy of a major customer could have a material adverse effect on
the  Company.  In  addition,  a  quality  issue,  shortcomings  in  our  service  to  a  customer  or  uncompetitive  prices  or  products  could  result  in  the  customer  not
awarding us new business, which will gradually have a negative impact on our sales when current contracts start to expire.

CUSTOMER PAYMENT RISK

Another risk related to our customers is the risk that one or more of our customers will be unable to pay their invoices that become due. We seek to limit this
customer  payment  risk by invoicing  our major  customers  through  their  local subsidiaries  in each  country,  even  for  global contracts.  By invoicing  this way,  we
attempt to avoid having the receivables with a multinational customer group exposed to the risk that a bankruptcy or similar event in one country would put all
receivables with such customer group at risk. In each country, we also monitor invoices becoming overdue.

Even so, if a major customer is unable to fulfill its payment obligations, it is likely that we would be forced to record a substantial loss on such receivables.

DEPENDENCE ON SUPPLIERS

Autoliv, at each stage of production, relies on internal or external suppliers in order to meet its delivery commitments. In some cases, suppliers are dictated by
the customers based on very specific qualification requirements. In other situations, the Company is dependent on a single supplier for a specific component.
Supply chain management works to review and mitigate these risks in the supply base.

There is a natural risk that disruptions in the supply chain could lead to the Company not being able to meet its delivery commitments and, as a consequence,
could lead to additional costs. The Company’s strategy is to reduce these supplier risks by seeking to maintain an optimal number of suppliers in all significant
component technologies, by standardization and by developing alternative suppliers around the world. However, for various reasons including costs involved in
maintaining alternative suppliers, this is not always possible.

46

 
NEW COMPETITION

Increased competition may result in price reductions, reduced margins and our inability to gain or hold market share. OEMs rigorously evaluate suppliers on the
basis of product quality, price, reliability and delivery as well as engineering capabilities, technical expertise, product innovation, financial viability, application of
lean principles, operational flexibility, customer service and overall management. To maintain our competitiveness and position as a market leader, it is important
to focus on all of these aspects of supplier evaluation and selection. 

Although the market for occupant restraint systems has undergone a significant consolidation during the past ten years, the passive safety market remains very
competitive. It cannot be excluded that additional competitors, both global and local, will seek to enter the market or grow beyond their current Keiretsu group or
traditional customer base. Particularly in China, South Korea and Japan there are numerous small domestic competitors often supplying just one OEM group.

PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY

The  Company’s  strategy  is  to  protect  its  innovations  with  patents,  and  to  vigorously  protect  and  defend  its  patents,  trademarks  and  know-how  against
infringement and unauthorized use. At the end of 2018, the Company held close to 6,050 patents. These patents expire on various dates during the period from
2019 to 2038. The expiration of any single patent is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial results.

Although the Company believes that its products and technology do not infringe upon the proprietary rights of others, there can be no assurance that third parties
will not assert infringement claims against the Company in the future. Also, there can be no assurance that any patent now owned by the Company will afford
protection  against  competitors  that  develop  similar  technology.  As  the  Company  continues  to  expand  its  products  and  expand  into  new  businesses,  it  will
increase its exposure to intellectual property claims.

Financial Risks

The Company is exposed to financial risks through its operations. To reduce the financial risks and to take advantage of economies of scale, the Company has a
central  treasury  department  supporting  operations  and  management.  The  treasury  department  handles  external  financial  transactions  and  functions  as  the
Company’s in-house bank for its subsidiaries.

The  Board  of  Directors  monitors  compliance  with  the  financial  risk  policy  on  an  on-going  basis.  For  information  about  specific  financial  risks,  see  Item  7A  –
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Significant Accounting Policies and Critical Accounting Estimates

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

The  Company  has  considered  all  applicable  recently  issued  accounting  standards.  The  Company  has  summarized  in  Note  2  to  the  Consolidated  Financial
Statements each of the recently issued accounting standards and stated the impact or whether management is continuing to assess the impact. See Note 2 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information.

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The  Company’s  significant  accounting  policies  are  disclosed  in  Note  2  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  included  herein.  Senior  management  has
discussed the development and selection of critical accounting estimates and disclosures with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The application of
accounting policies necessarily requires judgments and the use of estimates by a Company’s management. Actual results could differ from these estimates. By
their  nature,  these  judgments  are  subject  to  an  inherent  degree  of  uncertainty.  These  judgments  are  based  on  our  historical  experience,  terms  of  existing
contracts, and management’s evaluation of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and information available from other outside sources,
as appropriate. The Company considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

•

•

It requires management to make assumptions about matters that were uncertain at the time of the estimate, and

Changes  in  the  estimate  or  different  estimates  that  could  have  been  selected  would  have  had  a  material  impact  on  our  financial  condition  or
results of operations. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant judgments include the estimation of retroactive price
adjustments,  estimations  associated  with  purchase  price  allocations  regarding  business  combinations,  assessment  of  recoverability  of  goodwill
and intangible assets, estimation of pension benefit obligations based on actuarial assumptions, estimation of accruals for warranty and product
liabilities, restructuring charges, uncertain tax positions, valuation allowances and legal proceedings .

The  Company  has  summarized  its  critical  accounting  policies  requiring  judgment  below.  These  might  change  over  time  based  on  the  current  facts  and
circumstances.

47

 
 
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION

In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer,
adjusted  for  any  variable  consideration  (i.e.  price  concessions  or  annual  price  adjustments)  and  estimated  at  contract  inception.  The  Company  recognizes
revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product to a customer.

In  addition,  from  time  to  time,  Autoliv  may  make  payments  to  customers  in  connection  with  ongoing  and  future  business.  These  payments  to  customers  are
generally recognized as a reduction to revenue at the time of the commitment to make these payments unless the payment concession can be clearly linked to
the future business award. If the payments are capitalized, the amounts are amortized to revenue as the related goods are transferred.

INVENTORY RESERVES

Inventories are evaluated based on individual or, in some cases, groups of inventory items. Reserves are established to reduce the value of inventories to the
lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of
completion, disposal and transportation. Excess inventories are quantities of items that exceed anticipated sales or usage for a reasonable period. The Company
has guidelines for calculating provisions for excess inventories based on the number of months of inventories on hand compared to anticipated sales or usage.
Management uses its judgment to forecast sales or usage and to determine what constitutes a reasonable period.

There can be no assurance that the amount ultimately realized for inventories will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the reserves.

GOODWILL

The  Company  performs  an  annual  impairment  review  of  goodwill  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  each  year  following  the  Company’s  annual  forecasting  process.
Management used a qualitative assessment approach for 2018 goodwill impairment testing purposes. When evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the
fair  value  of  a  reporting  unit  is  less  than  its  carrying  amount,  an  entity  shall  assess  relevant  events  and  circumstances.  Examples  of  such  events  and
circumstances include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance etc.  Management has used
the following approach:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Determine the starting point

Identify the most relevant drivers of fair value

Identify events and circumstances

Weight the identified factors

The Company had significant head room from its latest fair value assessment performed in 2017, which determined the starting point.  The most relevant drivers
of  fair  value  for  the  Company  is  the  expected  future  cash  flows  and  the  discount  rate  used.  Considering  the  nature  of  the  Company’s  business  with  long
production cycles and our strong credit rating as well as industry factors, management concluded that goodwill was not impaired.

RECALL PROVISIONS AND WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS

The Company records liabilities for product recalls when probable claims are identified and when it is possible to reasonably estimate costs. Recall costs are
costs incurred when the customer decides to formally recall a product due to a known or suspected safety concern. Product recall costs typically include the cost
of the product being replaced as well as the customer’s cost of the recall, including labor to remove and replace the defective part. In some cases portions of the
product  recall  costs  are  reimbursed  by  an  insurance  company.  Actual  costs  incurred  could  differ  from  the  amounts  estimated,  requiring  adjustments  to  these
reserves in future periods. It is possible that changes in our assumptions or future product recall issues could materially affect our financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.

Estimating warranty obligations requires the Company to forecast the resolution of existing claims and expected future claims on products sold. The Company
bases  the  estimate  on  historical  trends  of  units  sold  and  payment  amounts,  combined  with  our  current  understanding  of  the  status  of  existing  claims  and
discussions  with  our  customers.  These  estimates  are  re-evaluated  on  an  ongoing  basis.  Actual  warranty  obligations  could  differ  from  the  amounts  estimated
requiring  adjustments  to  existing  reserves  in  future  periods.  Due  to  the  uncertainty  and  potential  volatility  of  the  factors  contributing  to  developing  these
estimates, changes in our assumptions could materially affect our results of operations.

RESTRUCTURING PROVISIONS

The Company defines restructuring expense to include costs directly associated with capacity alignment programs, plus exit or disposal activities. Estimates of
restructuring charges are based on information available at the time such charges are recorded. In general, management anticipates that restructuring activities
will be completed within a time frame such that significant changes to the exit plan are not likely.

48

 
 
 
 
 
Due to inherent uncertainty involved in estimating restructuring expenses, actual amounts paid for such activities may differ from amounts initially estimated.

DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS

The Company has defined benefit pension plans in eleven countries. The most significant plans exist in the U.S. These plans represent approximately 60% of
the Company’s total pension benefit obligation. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

The  Company,  in  consultation  with  its  actuarial  advisors,  determines  certain  key  assumptions  to  be  used  in  calculating  the  projected  benefit  obligation  and
annual pension expense. For the U.S. plans, the assumptions used for calculating the 2018 pension expense were a discount rate of 3.55%, expected rate of
increase in compensation levels of 2.65%, and an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 7.08%.

The assumptions used in calculating the U.S. benefit obligations disclosed as of December 31, 2018 were a discount rate of 4.35% and an expected age-based
rate of increase in compensation levels of 2.65%. The discount rate for the U.S. plans has been set based on the rates of return of high-quality fixed-income
investments  currently  available  at  the  measurement  date  and  are  expected  to  be  available  during  the  period  the  benefits  will  be  paid.  The  expected  rate  of
increase  in  compensation  levels  and  long-term  return  on  plan  assets  are  determined  based  on  a  number  of  factors  and  must  take  into  account  long-term
expectations and reflect the financial environment in the respective local markets. At December 31, 2018, 38% of the U.S. plan assets were invested in equities,
which is in line with the target of 40%.

The table below illustrates the sensitivity of the U.S. net periodic benefit cost and projected U.S. benefit obligation to a 1pp change in the discount rate, decrease
in  return  on  plan  assets  and  increase  in  compensation  levels  for  the  U.S.  plans  (in  millions).  The  use  of  actuarial  assumptions  is  an  area  of  management’s
estimate.

Assumption
(in millions)
Discount rate
Discount rate
Compensation levels
Return on plan assets

INCOME TAXES

2018 net

periodic benefit
cost increase
(decrease)

2018 projected

benefit   obligation  

increase
(decrease)

(3)   $
7    $
0    $
3   

(51)
65 
3 
n/a

Change
1pp increase 
1pp decrease 
1pp increase 
1pp decrease 

$
$
$
$

Significant judgment is required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many transactions
for which the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Many of these uncertainties arise as a consequence of intercompany transactions.

Although  the  Company  believes  that  its  tax  return  positions  are  supportable,  no  assurance  can  be  given  that  the  final  outcome  of  these  matters  will  not  be
materially different than that which is reflected in the historical income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material effect on the income
tax provisions or benefits in the periods in which such determinations are made. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017.
The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including reducing the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% for years
beginning after December 31, 2017, requiring

companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously deferred and created new taxes on certain foreign
sourced earnings. See also the discussion of the Tax Act and the determinations of valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets in Note 6 Income Taxes.

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Various  claims,  lawsuits  and  proceedings  are  pending  or  threatened  against  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,  covering  a  range  of  matters  that  arise  in  the
ordinary course of its business activities with respect to commercial, product liability or other matters.

The Company diligently defends itself in such matters and, in addition, carries insurance coverage to the extent reasonably available against insurable risks.

The Company records liabilities for claims, lawsuits and proceedings when they are probable and it is possible to reasonably estimate the cost of such liabilities.
Legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are expensed as such costs are incurred.

A loss contingency is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss
can  be  reasonably  estimated.  In  determining  whether  a  loss  should  be  accrued  management  evaluates,  among  other  factors,  the  degree  of  probability  of  an
unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss. Changes in these factors could materially impact our consolidated
financial statements.

49

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitat ive Disclosures about Market Risk

See  also  Note  2  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  of  this  Annual  Report  included  with  this  Form  10-K  for  information  about  how  these  risks  are
quantified.

CURRENCY RISKS

1. Transaction Exposure and Revaluation effects

Transaction exposure arises because the cost of a product originates in one currency and the product is sold in another currency. Revaluation effects come from
valuation of assets denominated in other currencies than the reporting currency of each unit.

The Company’s gross transaction exposure for 2018 was approximately $2.9 billion. A part of the currency flows had counter-flows in the same currency pair,
which reduced the net exposure to approximately $2.4 billion. The four largest net exposures are U.S. dollars (sell) against the Mexican Peso, Romanian Lei
(buy) against the Euro, U.S. dollars (buy) against Korean Won, Turkish Lira (buy) against the Euro. Together these currencies accounted for approximately 39%
of the Company’s net currency transaction exposure.

Since the Company can only effectively hedge these currency flows in the short term, periodic hedging would only reduce the impact of fluctuations temporarily.
Over time, periodic hedging would postpone but not reduce the impact of fluctuations. In addition, the net exposure is limited to only around one quarter of net
sales and is made up of around 50 different currency pairs with exposures more than of $1 million each. Autoliv generally does not hedge these flows.

2. Translation Exposure in the Income Statement and Balance Sheet

Another effect of exchange rate fluctuations arises when the income statements of non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars. Outside the U.S., the
Company’s most significant currency is the Euro. We estimate that 29% of the Company’s net sales will be denominated in Euro or other European currencies
during 2018, while approximately a quarter of net sales is estimated to be denominated in U.S. dollars.

The Company estimates that a 1% increase in the value of the U.S. dollar versus European currencies will decrease reported U.S. dollar annual net sales in
2019 by $27 million or by 0.3% while operating income for 2019 will decline by approximately 0.3% or by about $3 million, assuming reported corporate average
margin.

The Company’s policy is not to hedge this type of translation exposure since there is no cash flow effect to hedge.

A translation exposure also arises when the balance sheets of non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars. The policy of the Company is to finance
major subsidiaries in the country’s local currency and to minimize the amounts held by subsidiaries in foreign currency accounts.

Consequently, changes in currency rates relating to funding and foreign currency accounts normally have a small impact on the Company’s income.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Interest rate risk refers to the risk that interest rate changes will affect the Company’s borrowing costs. Autoliv’s interest rate risk policy states that the average
interest rate fixing period should be minimum 1 year and maximum 5 years.

At December 31, 2018, the average interest rate fixing period for the Company’s outstanding debt was 4.0 years.

Given  the  Company’s  current  capital  structure,  we  estimate  that  a  one-percentage  point  interest  rate  increase  would  reduce  net  interest  expense  by
approximately $3 million, both in 2019 and 2020. This is based on the capital structure at the end of 2018 when the gross fixed-rate debt was $1,883 million
while  the  Company  had  a  net  debt  position  of  $1,619  million  (see  section  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures).  Thus,  a  change  in  the  interest  rate
environment would not have a notable impact on the Company’s interest expense. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $616 million in cash and cash
equivalents  of  which  the  majority  were  subject  to  a  floating  interest  rate.  Taking  the  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  $616  million  (which  is  primarily  subject  to
floating interest rates) minus the portion of debt carrying floating interest rates, we estimated that a one-percentage point interest rate increase would increase
interest income and thereby reduce net interest expense by approximately $3 million, both in 2019 and 2020.

Fixed interest rate debt is achieved both by issuing fixed rate notes and through interest rate swaps. The most notable debt carrying fixed interest rates is the
$1.3 billion U.S. private placement notes issued in 2014 and in June 2018, the Company issued EUR 500 million of 5-year notes in the Eurobond market, see
Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

50

FINANCING RISK

Financing risk refers to the risk that it will be difficult and/or expensive to finance new or existing debt to meet the financing needs of the Autoliv Group.

The management of the financing risk ensures access to funding in a cost-efficient way by diversification of funding sources and debt maturities.

Autoliv has diversified its long-term funding sources by issuing notes in the USPP and Eurobond markets, and by signing a long-term credit agreement with 14
banks.  The  Company  also  has  established  programs  for  short-term  issuance  of  commercial  papers  in  the  Swedish  and  US  markets  and  short-term  credit
agreements, e.g. bank overdrafts and money market loans.

To ensure diversification of debt maturities no more than 20% of the Autoliv Group’s total debt may mature the next 12 months, unless such maturities (in excess
of 20%) are covered by unutilized committed credit facilities with maturity in excess of 12 months. Per December 31, 2018, 28% corresponding to $621 million of
the Autoliv Group’s total debt had maturity less than 12 months. This amount was fully covered by unutilized committed credit facilities with maturity in excess of
12 months.

CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND CREDIT RATING

The overall objective relating to Autoliv’s target capital structure and credit rating is to provide the Company with sufficient flexibility to manage the inherent risks
and cyclicality in Autoliv’s business and allow the Company to realize strategic opportunities and fund growth initiatives while creating shareholder value.

Autoliv is committed to maintain a “strong investment grade credit rating”. As of December 31, 2018 the Company had a long-term credit rating from S&P Global
Ratings (“S&P”) of A-.

The  amount  of  interest-bearing  debt  held  impacts  the  future  financial  flexibility  as  well  as  the  credit  rating.  Management  uses  the  non-U.S.  GAAP  measure
“Leverage Ratio” to analyze the amount of debt the Company can incur under its debt policy. Management believes that this policy also provides guidance to
credit and equity investors regarding the extent to which the Company would be prepared to leverage its operations. Autoliv’s long-term target for the leverage
ratio  (sum  of net  debt  plus pension  liabilities  divided  by EBITDA)  is 1.0x  with  the  aim  to operate  within  the  range  of 0.5x  to 1.5x.  At  December  31,  2018,  the
leverage ratio (non-U.S. GAAP measure, see calculation table below) was 1.5x. For details and calculation of leverage ratio, refer to the table below.

CALCULATION OF LEVERAGE RATIO (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

Net debt 1)
Pension liabilities
Debt per the Policy

Net income 2)
Less; Net Loss, Discontinued Operations 2)
Net income, Continuing Operations 2)
Income taxes 2)
Interest expense, net 2, 3)
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles 2)
Antitrust related matters 2)
EBITDA per the Policy
Leverage ratio

December   31  
2018

December   31  
2017

  $

  $

1,618.8    $
198.2     
1,817.0     

183.7     
193.8     
377.5     
234.9     
59.2     
342.0     
212.0     
1,225.6    $
1.5     

368.4 
206.8 
575.2 

303.0 
285.0 
588.0 
204.4 
53.7 
307.0 
18.0 
1,171.1 
0.5  

1)
2)
3)

Net debt is short- and long-term debt and debt-related derivatives less cash and cash equivalents (non-U.S. GAAP measure).
Latest 12 months.
Interest expense, net is interest expense including cost for extinguishment of debt, if any, less interest income.

CREDIT RISK IN FINANCIAL MARKETS

Credit risk refers to the risk of a financial counterparty being unable to fulfill an agreed-upon obligation.

In the Company’s financial operations, this risk arises when cash is deposited with banks and when entering into forward exchange agreements, swap contracts
or other financial instruments.

The policy of the Company is to work with banks that have a high credit rating and that participate in Autoliv’s financing.

51

 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
 
   
      
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
To further reduce credit risk, deposits an d financial instruments can only be entered into with core banks up to a calculated risk amount of $150 million per bank
for banks rated A- or above and up to $50 million for banks rated BBB+. In addition, deposits can be made in U.S. and Swedish governmen t short- term notes
and certain AAA rated money market funds as approved  by the Company’s Board of Directors. At year-end 2018,  the Company held $1 million in AAA rated
money market funds.

IMPAIRMENT RISK

Impairment risk refers to the risk that the Company will write down a material amount of its goodwill of close to $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2018. This risk is
assessed, at least, annually in the fourth quarter each year when the Company performs its impairment testing.

In 2018, a qualitative method has been used for determining whether there is any impairment risk. Both historical data and forecasts have been used to assess
the impairment risk.

It has been concluded that presently the Company is not “at risk” of failing the goodwill impairment test. However, there can be no assurance that goodwill will
not be impaired due to future significant declines in LVP, due to our technologies or products becoming obsolete or for any other reason. We could also acquire
companies where goodwill could turn out to be less resilient to deteriorations in external conditions. See also discussion under Goodwill and Intangible Assets in
Note 2 and Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The Consolidated Balance Sheets of Autoliv as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the Consolidated Statements of Net Income, Comprehensive Income, Cash
Flows and Total Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the Reports
of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included below.

All of the schedules specified under Regulation S-X to be provided by Autoliv have been omitted either because they are not applicable, are not required or the
information required is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

52

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Autoliv, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Autoliv,  Inc.  (the  Company)  as  of  December  31,  2018  and  2017,  and  the  related
consolidated statements of net income, comprehensive income, total equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018,
and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal
control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2018,  based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 21, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon .

Basis for Opinion

These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company’s  financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in
accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audits  in accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to
assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such
procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/ s / Ernst & Young AB

We have served as the Company´s auditor since 1984.

Stockholm, Sweden
February 21, 2019

53

 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Autoliv, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Autoliv, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Autoliv,
Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance
sheets  of  Autoliv,  Inc.  as  of  December  31,  2018  and  2017,  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  net  income,  comprehensive  income,  total  equity  and  cash
flows  for  each  of  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended  December  31,  2018,  and  the  related  notes  and  our  report  dated  February  21,  2019  expressed  an
unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of
internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable
assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  assessing  the  risk  that  a  material  weakness  exists,  testing  and
evaluating  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  internal  control  based  on  the  assessed  risk,  and  performing  such  other  procedures  as  we  considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial
reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (1)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also,  projections  of  any  evaluation  of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/ s / Ernst & Young AB

Stockholm, Sweden
February 21, 2019

54

 
 
 
  
  
 
Consolidated Statem ents of Net Income

(DOLLARS AND SHARES IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Research, development and engineering expenses, net
Amortization of intangibles
Other income (expense), net
Operating income
Income from equity method investments
Interest income
Interest expense
Other non-operating items, net
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax expense
Income from continuing operations
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
Net income
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to
   non-controlling interest
Less: Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to
   non-controlling interest
Net income attributable to controlling interest

Amounts attributable to controlling interest:
Net income from continuing operations
Net (Loss) income from discontinued operations
Net income attributable to controlling interest

Earnings per share continuing operations - basic 1)
(Loss) earnings per share discontinuing operations - basic 1)
Basic earnings per share

Earnings per share continuing operations - diluted 1)
(Loss) earnings per share discontinuing operations - diluted 1)
Diluted earnings per share

Weighted average number of shares outstanding, net of
   treasury shares (in millions)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, assuming
   dilution and net of treasury shares (in millions)

Cash dividend per share - declared
Cash dividend per share - paid

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 22  $

Note 11 
  Notes 12, 18 

Note 9 

Note 14 

Note 6 

Note 3 

   $

   $

   $

   $

   $

   $
   $
   $

Years ended December 31
2017
8,136.8    $
(6,457.1)  
1,679.7   
(406.6)  
(370.6)  
(11.2)  
(31.7)  
859.6   
1.7   
7.4   
(61.1)  
(15.2)  
792.4   
(204.4)  
588.0   
(285.0)  
303.0   

2018
8,678.2    $
(6,966.9)  
1,711.3   
(390.3)  
(412.6)  
(11.3)  
(211.1)  
686.0   
3.6   
6.9   
(66.1)  
(18.0)  
612.4 
(234.9)  
377.5   
(193.8)  
183.7   

2016
7,921.6 
(6,293.6)
1,628.0 
(394.4)
(357.3)
(10.5)
(34.8)
831.0 
2.6 
4.5 
(62.2)
8.3 
784.2 
(224.3)
559.9 
1.7 
561.6 

1.6   

2.0   

1.5 

(8.3)  
190.4    $

(126.1)  
427.1 

 $

(7.0)
567.1 

375.9    $
(185.5)  
190.4    $

586.0 
(158.9)
427.1 

 $

 $

 $

 $

6.70 
(1.82)  
4.88 

6.68 
 $
(1.81)   $
 $
4.87 

4.32    $
(2.13)  
2.19    $

4.31    $
(2.13)   $
2.18    $

87.1   

87.3   

87.5   

87.7   

   $
   $

2.48    $
2.46    $

2.40    $
2.38    $

558.4 
8.7 
567.1 

6.33 
0.10 
6.43 

6.32 
0.10 
6.42 

88.2 

88.4 

2.32 
2.30

1)

Participating share awards with the right to receive dividend equivalents are (under the two class method) excluded from the earnings per share calculation (see Note
23 in this Annual Report).

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
    
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Net income
Other comprehensive (loss) income before tax:
Change in cumulative translation adjustments
Net change in cash flow hedges
Net change in unrealized components of defined benefit plans
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax
Tax effect allocated to other comprehensive (loss) income
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
Comprehensive income
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

56

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

2018

  $

183.7    $

303.0    $

561.6 

(150.2)  
0.9   
14.2   
(135.1)  
(4.1)  
(139.2)  
44.5   
(7.4)  
51.9    $

272.1   
(8.9)  
31.9   
295.1   
(7.8)  
287.3   
590.3   
(114.8)  
705.1    $

(156.3)
7.9 
(24.6)
(173.0)
7.6 
(165.4)
396.2 
(13.9)
410.1

  $

 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated B alance Sheets

(DOLLARS AND SHARES IN MILLIONS)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories, net
Income tax receivables
Prepaid expenses
Other current assets
Related party receivables
Current assets, discontinued operations
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Investments and other non-current assets
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Non-current assets, discontinued operations
Total assets
Liabilities and equity
Short-term debt
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Income tax payable
Other current liabilities
Related party liabilities
Current liabilities, discontinued operations
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt
Pension liability
Other non-current liabilities
Non-current liabilities, discontinued operations
Total non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Common stock 1)
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Treasury stock (15.7 and 15.8 shares, respectively)
Total controlling interest’s equity
Non-controlling interest
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

At December 31

2018

2017

   $

Note 7 
Note 8 

Note 21 
Note 3 

Note 10 
Note 9 
Note 11 
Note 11 
Note 3 

   $

Note 14  $

Notes 12, 13 

Note 21 
Note 3 

Note 14 
Note 20 

Note 3 

Notes 18, 19 

Note 15 

   $

615.8    $

1,652.1   
757.9   
34.1   
208.6   
1.9   
15.0   
—   
3,285.4   
1,690.1   
323.5   
1,389.9   
32.7   
—   
6,721.6    $

620.7    $
978.3   
935.4   
64.9   
202.5   
63.7   
—   
2,865.5   
1,609.0   
198.2   
152.1   
—   
1,959.3   

102.8   
1,329.3   
2,041.8   
(423.2)  
(1,167.0)  
1,883.7   
13.1   
1,896.8   
6,721.6    $

959.5 
1,696.7 
704.3 
41.2 
153.0 
2.8 
— 
647.2 
4,204.7 
1,608.9 
341.0 
1,397.0 
42.6 
955.7 
8,549.9 

19.7 
957.3 
829.5 
81.9 
198.0 
— 
568.2 
2,654.6 
1,310.7 
206.8 
144.3 
64.1 
1,725.9 

102.8 
1,329.3 
4,079.2 
(287.5)
(1,188.7)
4,035.1 
134.3 
4,169.4 
8,549.9

1)

Number of sha r es: 350 million authorized, 102.8 million i s sued f or both y ea r s, and 87.1 and 87.0 million ou tst anding, net of t r easury sha r es, f or 2018 and
2017, r especti v e l y .

See No t es t o Consolida t ed Financial S t a t emen t s.

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statem ents of Cash Flows

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Operating activities
Net income continuing operations
Net income discontinued operations
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Legal provision
Goodwill, impairment charge
Deferred income taxes
Loss from equity method investments, net of dividends
Net change in:
Receivables and other assets, gross
Inventories, gross
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Income taxes
Other, net
Net cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Acquisition of intangible assets
Acquisition of businesses and interest in affiliates, net of cash acquired
Net proceeds from divestitures
Other
Net cash used in investing activities
Financing activities
Net decrease in short-term debt
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discount
Debt issuance costs
Dividends paid to non-controlling interest
Dividends paid
Shares repurchased
Common stock options exercised
Capital contribution to Veoneer
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

See No t es t o Consolida t ed Financial S t a t emen t s.

58

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

2018

   $

377.5    $
(193.8)  

588.0    $
(285.0)  

397.1   
210.0   
—   
3.0   
31.9   

(48.4)  
(123.9)  
(37.8)  
(19.2)  
(5.8)  
590.6   

(560.0)  
5.2   
—   
(72.0)  
—   
(0.9)  
(627.7)  

355.4   
582.2   
(2.6)  
(2.1)  
(214.3)  
—   
8.2   
(971.8)  
—   
(245.0)  
(61.6)  
(343.7)  
959.5   
615.8    $

425.8   
—   
234.2   
(47.2)  
38.1   

(102.2)  
(21.0)  
112.3   
10.6   
(17.7)  
935.9   

(580.1)  
10.5   
—   
(125.3)  
1.4   
(3.8)  
(697.3)  

(208.6)  
—   
—   
(0.1)  
(208.7)  
(157.0)  
7.9   
—   
0.3   
(566.2)  
60.4   
(267.2)  
1,226.7   

959.5    $

Note 17 

   $

559.9 
1.7 

383.0 
— 
— 
(24.8)
1.0 

(292.3)
(72.6)
271.2 
15.9 
25.4 
868.4 

(506.8)
8.2 
(1.1)
(226.3)
— 
— 
(726.0)

(2.7)
— 
— 
(1.7)
(202.8)
— 
5.9 
— 
1.1 
(200.2)
(49.0)
(106.8)
1,333.5 
1,226.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Stateme nts of Total Equity

    Additional      

    Accumulated      
    other com-

    Total parent    

Non-

(DOLLARS AND SHARES

  Number of     Common    

paid in     Retained     prehensive     Treasury     shareholders’     controlling    

IN MILLIONS)
Balance at December 31, 2015
Comprehensive Income:

Comprehensive Income
Net income
Net change in cash flow hedges
Foreign currency translation
Pension liability

Total Comprehensive Income
Stock-based compensation
Cash dividends declared
Dividends paid to non-controlling
   interest on subsidiary shares
Investment in subsidiary by
   non-controlling interest
Balance at December 31, 2016
Comprehensive Income:

Net income
Net change in cash flow hedges
Foreign currency translation
Pension liability

Total Comprehensive Income
Stock-based compensation
Cash dividends declared
Dividends paid to non-controlling
   interest on subsidiary shares
Repurchased shares
Balance at December 31, 2017
Comprehensive Income:

Net income
Net change in cash flow hedges
Foreign currency translation
Pension liability

Adjustment due to adoption of
   ASU 2018-02
Total Comprehensive Income
Stock-based compensation
Cash dividends declared
Dividends paid to non-controlling
   interest on subsidiary shares
Adjustment due to adoption of
   ASU 2014-09
Distribution of Veoneer
Other
Balance at December 31, 2018

shares    

stock    

capital

    earnings  

  (loss) income    

stock    

equity

102.8    $

102.8    $ 1,329.3    $ 3,499.4    $

(408.5)   $ (1,067.4 )   $

3,455.6    $

567.1     

(204.7)    

7.9     
(147.7)    
(17.2)    

16.2     

567.1     
7.9     
(147.7)    
(17.2)    
410.1     
16.2     
(204.7)    

102.8    $

102.8    $ 1,329.3    $ 3,861.8    $

(565.5)   $ (1,051.2 )   $

3,677.2 

 $

interest

Total
    equity 1)  
12.5    $ 3,468.1 

(5.5)    

(8.6)    
0.2     
(13.9)    

561.6 
7.9 
(156.3)
(17.0)
396.2 
16.2 
(204.7)

(1.7)    

(1.7)

252.3     
249.2 

252.3 
 $ 3,926.4 

427.1     

(209.7)    

(8.9)    
263.0     
23.9     

19.5     

427.1     
(8.9)    
263.0     
23.9     
705.1     
19.5     
(209.7)    

(124.1)    

9.1     
0.2     
(114.8)    

303.0 
(8.9)
272.1 
24.1 
590.3 
19.5 
(209.7)

102.8 

 $

102.8 

 $ 1,329.3    $ 4,079.2    $

(157.0)    
(287.5)   $ (1,188.7 )   $

(157.0)    
 $

4,035.1 

134.3 

(0.1)    

(0.1)
(157.0)
 $ 4,169.4 

190.4     

0.9     
(149.5)    
10.1     

10.2     

(10.2)    

(216.7)    

21.7     

190.4     
0.9     
(149.5)    
10.1     

0.0     
51.9     
21.7     
(216.7)    

(6.7)    

(0.7)    

(7.4)    

183.7 
0.9 
(150.2)
10.1 

0.0 
44.5 
21.7 
(216.7)

(2.2)    

(2.2)

3.3     
       (2,024.3 )    
(0.3)    
102.8    $ 1,329.3    $ 2,041.8    $

102.8    $

13.0     

(423.2)   $ (1,167.0 )   $

3.3     
(2,011.3 )    
(0.3)    
1,883.7    $

3.3 
(111.6)     (2,122.9 )
(0.3)
13.1    $ 1,896.8  

1)

See Note 15 for further details – includes tax effects where applicable.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

59

 
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
  
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
  
   
      
      
    
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
    
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
  
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
  
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
   
      
      
      
      
      
      
   
 
 
N o t e s to C o n s ol i d a t e d Financial Statements

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

1. Basis of Presentation

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Through its operating subsidiaries, Autoliv is a supplier of automotive safety systems with a broad range of product offerings, including modules and components
for  passenger  and  driver  airbags,  side  airbags,  curtain  airbags,  seatbelts  and  steering  wheels.  Autoliv  is  also  a  supplier  of  anti-whiplash  systems,  pedestrian
protection systems and child seats.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  United  States  (U.S.)  Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles  (GAAP)  and
include  Autoliv, Inc. and all companies  over which Autoliv,  Inc. directly or indirectly  exercises  control,  which as a general  rule means  that the Company  owns
more than 50% of the voting rights.

Consolidation is also required when the Company has both the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity (VIE) and the obligation to absorb losses
or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

All intercompany accounts and transactions within the Company have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Investments  in  affiliated  companies  in  which  the  Company  exercises  significant  influence  over  the  operations  and  financial  policies,  but  does  not  control,  are
reported using the equity method of accounting. Generally, the Company owns between 20 and 50 percent of such investments.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On June 29, 2018 (the “Distribution Date”), Autoliv completed the spin-off of its former Electronics segment (the “spin-off”) through the distribution of all of the
issued and outstanding stock of Veoneer, Inc. (“Veoneer”). To effect the spin-off, Autoliv distributed to each Autoliv stockholder one share of Veoneer common
stock, par value $1.00 per share, for every one share of Autoliv common stock, par value $1.00 per share, held by such person on the common stock record
date, and each Autoliv Swedish Depository Receipt (SDR) holder received one Veoneer SDR for each Autoliv SDR held by such person on the applicable SDR
record  date.  On  July  2,  2018,  Veoneer’s  common  stock  began  regular-way  trading  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  under  the  symbol  “VNE”  and  its  SDRs
began trading on Nasdaq Stockholm under the symbol “VNE SDB.” The Company did not retain any equity interest in Veoneer.

In  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP,  the  financial  position  and  results  of  operations  of  the  Electronics  business  are  presented  as  discontinued  operations  and,  as
such,  have  been  excluded  from  continuing  operations  for  all  periods  presented.  The  sum  of  the  individual  earnings  per  share  amounts  from  continuing
operations  and  discontinued  operations  may  not  equal  the  total  company  earnings  per  share  amounts  due  to  rounding.  The  cash  flows  and  comprehensive
income  related  to  the  Electronics  business  have  not  been  segregated  and  are  included  in  the  Condensed  Consolidated  Statements  of  Cash  Flows  and
Comprehensive  Income,  respectively,  for  all  periods  presented.  With  the  exception  of  Note  3,  the  Notes  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  reflect  the
continuing operations of Autoliv. See Note 3 - Discontinued Operations below for additional information regarding discontinued operations.

On April 1, 2018, in preparation for the spin-off, pursuant to the terms of a master transfer agreement entered into between Autoliv and Veoneer, assets related
to the Electronics business were transferred to, and liabilities related to the Electronics business were retained or assumed by Veoneer, however, responsibility
for  certain  product,  warranty  and  recall  liabilities  for  Electronics  products  manufactured  prior  to  April  1,  2018  was  retained  by  Autoliv  as  provided  in  the
Distribution Agreement between Autoliv and Veoneer.

Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and related footnotes thereto have been reclassified, unless otherwise noted, to conform with
the current year presentation as a result of the spin-off of Veoneer.

SEGMENT REPORTING

Upon completion of the spin-off at June 30, 2018, Autoliv concluded that it has one reportable segment, based on the way the Company currently evaluates its
financial  performance  and  manages  its  operations.  The  Company  will  re-evaluate  the  one  reportable  segment  as  the  operating  model  evolves,  including  the
management  structure.  Prior  to  the  completion  of  the  spin-off,  the  Company  had  two  reportable  segments,  Electronics  and  Passive  Safety.  The  Company’s
Passive Safety reportable segment includes the Company’s airbag and seatbelt products and components. For more information on our segment, see Note 22.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Transactions in which the Company obtains control of a business are accounted for according to the acquisition method as described in Financial Accounting
Standards  Board  (FASB)  Accounting  Standards  Codification  (ASC)  805,  Business  Combinations.  The  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed  are  recognized
and  measured  at  their  fair  values  as  of  the  date  control  is  obtained.  Acquisition  related  costs  in  connection  with  a  business  combination  are  expensed  as
incurred.  Contingent  consideration  is  recognized  and  measured  at  fair  value  at  the  acquisition  date  and  until  paid  is  re-measured  on  a  recurring  basis.  It  is
classified as a liability based on appropriate GAAP.

EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

Investments accounted for under the equity method, means that a proportional share of the equity method investment’s net income increases the investment,
and  a  proportional  share  of  losses  and  payment  of  dividends  decreases  it.  In  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Net  Income,  the  proportional  share  of  the  net
income (loss) is reported as Income from equity method investments.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of
net sales and expenses during the reporting period. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant judgments include the estimation of
variable  consideration  for  our  contracts  with  customers,  valuation  of  stock  based  payments,  assessment  of  recoverability  of  goodwill  and  intangible  assets,
estimation  of  pension  benefit  obligations  based  on  actuarial  assumptions,  estimation  of  accruals  for  warranty  and  product  liabilities,  restructuring  charges,
uncertain tax positions, valuation allowances and legal proceedings. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

In accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer,
adjusted  for  any  variable  consideration  (i.e.  price  concessions  or  annual  price  adjustments)  and  estimated  at  contract  inception.  The  Company  recognizes
revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product to a customer.

In  addition,  from  time  to  time,  Autoliv  may  make  payments  to  customers  in  connection  with  ongoing  and  future  business.  These  payments  to  customers  are
generally recognized as a reduction to revenue at the time of the commitment to make these payments unless the payment concession can be clearly linked to
the future business. If the payments are capitalized, the amounts are amortized to revenue as the related goods are transferred.

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction, that are collected by the
Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue.

Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control of a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and
are included in cost of sales.

Nature of goods and services

The  following  is  a  description  of  principal  activities  from  which  the  Company  generates  its  revenue.  The  Company  has  after  the  spin-off  of  its  Electronics
business  currently  one  operating  segment,  Passive  safety  systems,  which  includes  airbag  and  seatbelt  products  and  components.  The  Company  generates
revenue from the sale of production parts to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”).

The Company accounts for individual products separately if they are distinct (i.e., if a product is separately identifiable from other items and if a customer can
benefit from it on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer). The consideration, including any price concessions or annual price
adjustments, is based on their stand-alone selling prices for each of the products. The stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the cost-plus margin
approach.

The Company recognizes revenue for production parts primarily at a point in time.

For production parts with revenue recognized at a point in time, the Company recognizes revenue upon shipment to the customers and transfer of title and risk
of loss under standard commercial terms (typically FOB shipping point). There are certain contracts where the criteria to recognize revenue over time have been
met  (e.g.,  there  is  no  alternative  use  to  the  Company  and  the  Company  has  an  enforceable  right  to  payment).  In  such  cases,  at  period  end,  the  Company
recognizes  revenue  and  a  related  asset  and  associated  cost  of  goods  sold  and  inventory.  However,  the  financial  impact  of  these  contracts  is  immaterial
considering the very short production cycles and limited inventory days on hand, which is typical for the automotive industry.

The  amount  of  revenue  recognized  is  based  on  the  purchase  order  price  and  adjusted  for  variable  consideration  (i.e.  price  concessions  or  annual  price
adjustments). Customers typically pay for the production parts based on customary business practices.

61

 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING (R,D&E)

Research  and  development  and  most  engineering  expenses  are  expensed  as  incurred.  These  expenses  are  reported  net  of  expense  reimbursements  from
contracts to perform engineering design and product development fulfillment activities related to the production of parts.

Certain engineering expenses related to long-term supply arrangements are capitalized when defined criteria, such as the existence of a contractual guarantee
for reimbursement, are met. The aggregate amount of such assets is not significant in any period presented.

Tooling  is  generally  agreed  upon  as  a  separate  contract  or  a  separate  component  of  an  engineering  contract,  as  a  pre-production  project.  Capitalization  of
tooling  costs  is  made  only  when  the  specific  criteria  for  capitalization  of  customer  funded  tooling  is  met  or  the  criteria  for  capitalization  as  Property,  Plant  &
Equipment (P,P&E) for tools owned by the Company are fulfilled. Depreciation on the Company’s own tooling is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of
Net Income as Cost of sales.

STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

The  compensation  costs  for  all  of  the  Company’s  stock-based  compensation  awards  are  determined  based  on  the  fair  value  method  as  defined  in  ASC  718,
Compensation - Stock Compensation. The Company records the compensation expense for awards under the Stock Incentive Plan, including Restricted Stock
Units (RSUs), Performance Shares (PSs) and stock options (SOs), over the respective vesting period. For further details, see Note 17.

INCOME TAXES

Current tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the estimated taxes payable or refundable on the tax returns for the current year. In certain circumstances,
payments or refunds may extend beyond twelve months, in such cases amounts would be classified as non-current taxes payable or refundable. Deferred tax
liabilities or assets are recognized for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards that result from events that have
been recognized in either the financial statements or the tax returns, but not both. The measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets is based on
provisions of enacted tax laws. Deferred tax assets are reduced by the amount of any tax benefits that are not expected to be realized. A valuation allowance is
recognized  if,  based  on  the  weight  of  all  available  evidence,  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  some  portion,  or  all,  of  the  deferred  tax  asset  will  not  be  realized.
Evaluation of the realizability of deferred tax assets is subject to significant judgment requiring careful consideration of all facts and circumstances. The Company
classifies deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Tax assets and liabilities are not offset unless attributable to the
same tax jurisdiction and netting is possible according to law and, as it relates to payables and receivables, expected to take place in the same period.

Tax benefits associated with tax positions taken in the Company’s income tax returns are initially recognized and measured in the financial statements when it is
more likely than not that those tax positions will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authorities. The Company’s evaluation of its tax benefits is
based on the probability of the tax position being upheld if challenged by the taxing authorities (including through negotiation, appeals, settlement and litigation).
Whenever a tax position does not meet the initial recognition criteria, the tax benefit is subsequently recognized and measured if there is a substantive change in
the  facts  and  circumstances  that  cause  a  change  in  judgment  concerning  the  sustainability  of  the  tax  position  upon  examination  by  the  relevant  taxing
authorities. In cases where tax benefits meet the initial recognition criterion, the Company continues, in subsequent periods, to assess its ability to sustain those
positions.  A  previously  recognized  tax  benefit  is  derecognized  when  it  is  no  longer  more  likely  than  not  that  the  tax  position  would  be  sustained  upon
examination. Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are classified as non-current unless the payment of the liability is expected to be made within the next 12
months.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company calculates basic earnings per share (EPS) by dividing net income attributable to controlling interest by the weighted-average number of shares of
common stock outstanding  for the  period (net  of treasury shares).  The Company’s unvested  RSUs, of which some include the right to receive non-forfeitable
dividend  equivalents,  are  considered  participating  securities.  The  diluted  EPS  reflects  the  potential  dilution  that  could  occur  if  common  stock  were  issued  for
awards under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan and is calculated using the more dilutive method of either the two-class method or the treasury stock method.
The  treasury  stock  method  assumes  that  the  Company  uses  the  proceeds  from  the  exercise  of  stock  option  awards  to  repurchase  ordinary  shares  at  the
average  market  price  during  the  period.    For  unvested  restricted  stock,  assumed  proceeds  under  the  treasury  stock  method  will  include  unamortized
compensation  cost  and  windfall  tax  benefits  or  shortfalls.  Post  spin-off  assumed  proceeds  under  the  treasury  stock  method  related  to  RSUs  will  only  include
unamortized compensation cost related to Autoliv employees holding Autoliv RSUs. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method exclude from the numerator
any  dividends  paid  or  owed  on  participating  securities  and  any  undistributed  earnings  considered  to  be  attributable  to  participating  securities.  The  related
participating securities are similarly excluded from the denominator. For further details, see Notes 17 and 23.

62

CASH EQUIVALENTS

The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

RECEIVABLES

The Company has guidelines for calculating the allowance for bad debts. In determining the amount of a bad debt allowance, management uses its judgment to
consider factors such as the age of the receivables, the Company’s prior experience with the customer, the experience of other enterprises in the same industry,
the customer’s ability to pay, and/or an appraisal of current economic conditions. Collateral is typically not required. There can be no assurance that the amount
ultimately realized for receivables will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the allowance.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily forwards, options and swaps to reduce the effects of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, interest
rates  and  the  resulting  variability  of  the  Company’s  operating  results.  On  the  date  that  a  derivative  contract  is  entered  into,  the  Company  designates  the
derivative as either (1) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (a fair value
hedge), (2) a hedge of the exposure of a forecasted transaction or of the variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability (a cash flow hedge) or (3)
an economic hedge not applying special hedge accounting pursuant to ASC 815.

When a hedge is classified as a fair value hedge, the change in the fair value of the hedge is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income along
with the offsetting change in the fair value of the hedged item. When a hedge is classified as a cash flow hedge, any change in the fair value of the hedge is
initially recorded in equity as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) and reclassified into the Consolidated Statements of Net Income when the
hedge transaction affects net earnings. The Company uses the forward rate with respect to the measurement of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges when
revaluing foreign exchange forward contracts. All derivatives are recognized in the consolidated financial statements at fair value.

For certain other derivatives, hedge accounting is not applied either because non-hedge accounting treatment creates the same accounting result or the hedge
does  not  meet  the  hedge  accounting  requirements,  although  entered  into  applying  the  same  rationale  concerning  mitigating  market  risk  that  occurs  from
changes in interest and foreign exchange rates.

For further details on the Company’s financial instruments, see Notes 5 and 14.

INVENTORIES

The cost of inventories is computed according to the first-in first-out method (FIFO). Cost includes the cost of materials, direct labor and the applicable share of
manufacturing  overhead. Inventories are evaluated based on individual or, in some cases, groups of inventory items. Reserves are established to reduce the
value  of  inventories  to  the  lower  of  cost  and  net  realizable  value.  Net  realizable  value  is  the  estimated  selling  prices  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  less
reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Excess inventories are quantities of items that exceed anticipated sales or usage for a
reasonable  period.  The  Company  has  guidelines  for  calculating  provisions  for  excess  inventories  based  on  the  number  of  months  of  inventories  on  hand
compared  to  anticipated  sales  or  usage.  Management  uses  its  judgment  to  forecast  sales  or  usage  and  to  determine  what  constitutes  a  reasonable  period.
There can be no assurance that the amount ultimately realized for inventories will not be materially different than that assumed in the calculation of the reserves.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, Plant and Equipment are recorded at historical cost. Construction in progress generally involves short-term projects for which capitalized interest is not
significant. The Company provides for depreciation of property, plant and equipment computed under the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful
lives, or in the case of leasehold improvements over the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. Amortization on capital leases is recognized with depreciation
expense in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income over the shorter of the assets’ expected life or the lease contract term. Repairs and maintenance are
expensed as incurred.

LONG-LIVED ASSET IMPAIRMENT

The Company evaluates the carrying value and useful lives of long-lived assets other than goodwill when indications of impairment are evident or it is likely that
the  useful  lives  have  decreased,  in  which  case  the  Company  depreciates  the  assets  over  the  remaining  useful  lives.  Impairment  testing  is  primarily  done  by
using  the  cash  flow  method  based  on  undiscounted  future  cash  flows.  Estimated  undiscounted  cash  flows  for  a  long-lived  asset  being  evaluated  for
recoverability  are  compared  with  the  respective  carrying  amount  of  that  asset.  If  the  estimated  undiscounted  cash  flows  exceed  the  carrying  amount  of  the
assets, the carrying amounts of the long-lived asset are considered recoverable and an impairment cannot be recorded. However, if the carrying amount of a
group of assets exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an entity must then measure the long-lived assets’ fair value to determine whether an impairment loss
should be recognized, generally using a discounted cash flow model. Generally, the lowest level of cash flows for impairment assessment is customer platform
level.

63

 
 
 
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is not amortized,
but is subject to at least an annual review for impairment. Other intangible assets, principally related to acquired technology, are amortized over their useful lives
which range from 3 to 25 years.

The Company performs its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter of each year. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or
circumstance  indicates  that  an  impairment,  or  decline  in  value,  may  have  occurred.  For  2018  the  Company  has  opted  to  use  a  qualitative  assessment  for
impairment testing. The qualitative assessment permits the Company to assess whether it is more than likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of greater than 50%) that
an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If the Company concludes based on the qualitative assessment that it is not more likely than not that the fair value
of an indefinite-lived intangible assets is less than its carrying amount, it would not have to quantitatively determine the asset’s fair value.

In  conducting  its  qualitative  impairment  testing,  the  Company  has  used  the  most  recent  fair  value  calculation  for  its  indefinite-lived  intangible  assets  as  the
starting point  for the qualitative  assessment.  The  Company has also considered external factors  that could affect  the significant  inputs used to determine fair
value.

There were no impairments of goodwill related to the Company’s continuing operations from 2016 through 2018.

WARRANTIES AND RECALLS

The Company records liabilities for product recalls when probable claims are identified and when it is possible to reasonably estimate costs. Recall costs are
costs incurred when the customer decides to formally recall a product due to a known or suspected safety concern. Product recall costs typically include the cost
of the product being replaced as well as the customer’s cost of the recall, including labor to remove and replace the defective part. Insurance receivables, related
to recall issues covered by the insurance, are included within other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Provisions for warranty claims are estimated based on prior experience, likely changes in performance of newer products and the mix and volume of products
sold. The provisions are recorded on an accrual basis.

RESTRUCTURING PROVISIONS

The Company defines restructuring expense to include costs directly associated with rightsizing, exit or disposal activities.

Estimates  of  restructuring  charges  are  based  on  information  available  at  the  time  such  charges  are  recorded.  In  general,  management  anticipates  that
restructuring activities will be completed within a timeframe such that significant changes to the exit plan are not likely. Due to inherent uncertainty involved in
estimating restructuring expenses, actual amounts paid for such activities may differ from amounts initially estimated.

PENSION OBLIGATIONS

The Company provides for both defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans. A defined contribution plan generally specifies the periodic amount that the
employer must contribute to the plan and how that amount will be allocated to the eligible employees who perform services during the same period. A defined
benefit pension plan is one that contains pension benefit formulas, which generally determine the amount of pension benefits that each employee will receive for
services performed during a specified period of employment.

The amount recognized as a defined benefit liability is the net total of projected benefit obligation (PBO) minus the fair value of plan assets (if any) (see Note 20).
The plan assets are measured at fair value. The inputs to the fair value measurement of the plan assets are mainly level 2 inputs (see Note 5).

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Various  claims,  lawsuits  and  proceedings  are  pending  or  threatened  against  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,  covering  a  range  of  matters  that  arise  in  the
ordinary course of its business activities with respect to commercial, product liability or other matters (see Note 18).

The Company diligently defends itself in such matters and, in addition, carries insurance coverage to the extent reasonably available against insurable risks.

The Company records liabilities for claims, lawsuits and proceedings when they are probable and it is possible to reasonably estimate the cost of such liabilities.
Legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are expensed as such costs are incurred.

The Company believes, based on currently available information, that the resolution of outstanding matters, other than the antitrust matters described in Note 18,
after taking into account recorded liabilities and available insurance coverage, should not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of
operations.

64

 
 
 
 
However, due to the inherent uncertainty associated with such matters, there can be no assurance that the final outcomes of these matters will not be mate rially
different than currently estimated.

TRANSLATION OF NON-U.S. SUBSIDIARIES

The balance sheets of subsidiaries with functional currency other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates.

The  statements  of  operations  of  these  subsidiaries  is  translated  into  U.S.  dollars  using  the  average  exchange  rates  for  the  year.  Translation  differences  are
reflected in equity as a component of OCI.

RECEIVABLES AND LIABILITIES IN NON-FUNCTIONAL CURRENCIES

Receivables and liabilities not denominated  in functional currencies are converted  at year-end exchange  rates. Net transaction gains/(losses), reflected  in the
Consolidated Statements of Net Income amounted to $(22.1) million in 2018, $(27.0) million in 2017 and $(4.3) million in 2016, and are recorded in operating
income if they relate to operational receivables and liabilities or are recorded in other non-operating items, net if they relate to financial receivables and liabilities.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In  February  2018,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)  issued  Accounting  Standards  Update  (ASU)  2018-02,  Income  Statement  –  Reporting
Comprehensive  Income  (Topic  220)  –  Reclassification  of  Certain  Tax  Effects  from  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Income  (AOCI)  ,  which  allows  a
reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). Consequently, the amendments
in ASU 2018-02 eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 are effective for all entities for annual periods
beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for
which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 should be applied either
in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax
Act  is  recognized.  The  Company  early  adopted  ASU  2018-02  as  of  January  1,  2018  and  made  a  reclassification  from  AOCI  to  Retained  earnings  of
approximately $10 million .

In January 2018, the FASB released guidance on the accounting for tax on the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Act. The GILTI
provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign corporations. In the first quarter of 2018, the Company
elected to treat any potential GILTI inclusions as a period cost.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and
Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost , which requires the service cost component to be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs
arising  from  services  rendered  by  the  pertinent  employees  during  the  period.  The  other  components  of  net  benefit  cost  are  required  to  be  presented  in  the
consolidated statements of income separately from the service cost component and outside operating income. The amendments in ASU 2017-07 are effective
for  public  business  entities  for  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2017,  including  interim  periods  within  those  annual  periods.  Early  adoption  is
permitted as of the beginning of an annual period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The
amendments  in  ASU  2017-07  should  be  applied  retrospectively  for  the  presentation  of  the  service  cost  component  and  the  other  components  of  net  periodic
pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the consolidated statements of income. The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 in the first quarter of
2018.  Prior  comparative  periods  have  not  been  adjusted  since  the  impact  of  ASU  2017-07  is  not  material  for  any  consolidated  financial  statements  periods
presented.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory , which requires an entity to
recognize  the  income  tax  consequences  of  an  intra-entity  transfer  of  an  asset  other  than  inventory  when  the  transfer  occurs.  Current  GAAP  prohibits  the
recognition  of  current  and  deferred  income  taxes  for  an  intra-entity  asset  transfer  until  the  asset  has  been  sold  to  an  outside  party.  Consequently,  the
amendments in this ASU 2016-16 eliminate the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. Two common examples of assets included
in the scope of ASU 2016-16 are intellectual property and property, plant, and equipment. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 are effective for public business
entities  for  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2017,  including  interim  periods  within  those  annual  periods.  Early  adoption  is  permitted  as  of  the
beginning  of  an  annual  reporting  period  for  which  financial  statements  (interim  or  annual)  have  not  been  issued  or  made  available  for  issuance.  The
amendments in ASU 2016-16 should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the
beginning  of  the  period  of  adoption.  The  adoption  of  ASU  2016-16  effective  January  1,  2018  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  consolidated  financial
statements for any periods presented.

65

 
 
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with C ustomers (Topic 606), which outlines a single, comprehensive model for entities to
use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance issued by the FASB, including
industry specific guidance. In 2016, the FASB issued accounting standard updates to address implementation issues and to clarify guidance in certain areas.
The  core  principle  of  the  guidance  is  that  an  entity  should  recognize  revenue  when  it  transfers  promised  goods  or  serv  ices  to  customers  in  an  amount  that
reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, ASU 2014-09 requires certain additional
disclosure around the nature, amount, timing, and uncertain ty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted ASU
2014-09 effective January 1, 2018 and utilized the modified retrospective (cumulative effect) transition method to all contracts not completed at the date of initia l
application. The Company applied the modified retrospective transition method through a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. The adoption of the new
revenue standard did not have a material impact on net sales, net income, or balance sheet.

Balance Sheet
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
Inventories, net 1)
Other current assets 1)

Equity
Retained Earnings 1)

Balance at

December 31, 2017  

Adjustments due
to ASU 2014-09

Balance at
January 1, 2018

  $

859.1    $
228.9   

(17.3)   $
22.0   

841.8 
250.9 

4,079.2   

3.3   

4,082.5

1)

Impact at adoption which included both continuing and discontinued operations.

Income Statement
(Dollars in millions)
Net sales
Cost of sales
Operating income

Balance Sheet
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
Inventories, net
Other current assets

Equity
Retained Earnings

Year ended December 31, 2018

Balances without
adoption of
ASU 2014-09

Effect of Changes

As Reported

  $

8,678.2    $
(6,966.9)  
686.0   

8,673.7    $
(6,963.1)  
685.3   

4.5 
(3.8)
0.7

As of December 31, 2018
Balances without
adoption of
ASU 2014-09

As Reported

Effect of Changes

  $

757.9    $
244.6   

773.6    $
225.1   

2,041.8   

2,039.1   

(15.7)
19.5 

2.7

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In  August  2018,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2018-14,  Com  pensation-Retirement  Benefits-Defined  Benefit  Plans-General  (Subtopic  715-20),  Changes  to  the
Disclosure  Requirements  for  Defined  Benefit  Plans  ,  which  modifies  the  disclosure  requirements  for  employers  that  sponsor  defined  benefit  pension  or  other
postretirement  plans.  The amendments  in ASU 2018-14  remove disclosures that  no longer  are considered  cost  beneficial,  clarify the specific requirements  of
disclosures,  and  add  disclosure  requirements  identified  as  relevant.  The  amendments  in  ASU  2018-14  are  effective  for  public  business  entities  for  annual
periods ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. An entity should apply the amendments in ASU 2018-14 on a retrospective basis to all
periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2018-14 on the consolidated financial statements.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair
Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all
entities  for  annual  periods  beginning  aft  er  December  15,  2019,  including  interim  periods  within  these  annual  periods.  The  amendments  on  changes  in
unrealized  gains  and  losses,  the  range  and  weighted  average  of  significant  unobservable  inputs  used  to  develop  Level  3  fair  value  measurements,  and  th  e
narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial annual
year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods pre sented upon their effective date. An entity is permitted to early adopt
either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify disclosures upon issuance of ASU 2018-13. The Company believes that the pending
adoption of ASU 2018-13 will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In  August  2017,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2017-12,  Derivative  and  Hedging  (Topic  815),  Targeted  improvements  to  accounting  for  hedging  activities  .  The
amendments in ASU 2017-12 better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the
designation  and  measurement  guidance  for  qualifying  hedging  relationships  and  the  presentation  of  hedge  results.  The  amendments  in  ASU  2017-12  also
include certain targeted improvements to ease the application of current guidance related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The amendments in ASU
2017-12 modify disclosures required in current GAAP. Those modifications include a tabular disclosure related to the effect on the income statement of fair value
and cash flow hedges and eliminate the requirement to disclose the ineffective portion of the change in fair value of hedging instruments. The amendments also
require new tabular disclosures related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 are effective for public business
entities for annual period beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. For cash flow and net
investment hedges existing at the date of adoption, an entity should apply a cumulative-effect  adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of
ineffectiveness to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of
the  annual  period  that  an  entity  adopts  the  amendments  in  ASU  2017-12.  The  Company  believes  that  the  pending  adoption  of  ASU  2017-12  will  not  have  a
material impact on the consolidated financial statements since the Company terminated its existing cash flow hedges in the first quarter of 2018.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which
requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held and requires enhanced disclosures regarding significant estimates and
judgments  used  in  estimating  credit  losses.  ASU  2016-13  is  effective  for  public  business  entities  for  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2019,  and
early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of
ASU 2016-13 on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease
liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 affects any entity that enters into a lease, with some
specified scope exceptions. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018,
and  interim  periods  within  those  annual  periods.  Early  adoption  is  permitted.  The  Company  intends  to  adopt  ASU  2016-02  in  the  annual  period  beginning
January 1, 2019. The Company intends to apply the modified retrospective transition method and elect the transition option to use the effective date January 1,
2019, as the date of initial application. The Company will not adjust its comparative period financial statements for effects of the ASU 2016-02, or make the new
required lease disclosures for periods before the effective date. The Company will recognize its cumulative effect transition adjustment as of the effective date. In
addition, the Company intends to elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other
things, will allow the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification.

During  the  fourth  quarter,  the  Company  continued  its  process  to  identify  leasing  arrangements  and  to  compare  its  accounting  policies  and  practices  to  the
requirements  of  the  new  standard.  Specifically,  the  Company  is  continuing  to  assess  whether  there  are  any  “embedded  leases”  in  arrangements  with  its
suppliers and customers that may result in right to use assets or in the Company being a lessor for tools they own that are dedicated to a specific customer. In
addition, the Company has implemented a new system to assist with lease accounting. The Company regularly enters into operating leases, for which current
GAAP does not require recognition on the balance sheet. The Company anticipates that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will primarily result in the recognition of
most operating leases on its balance sheet resulting in an increase in reported right-of-use assets and leasing liabilities. The Company will continue to assess
the impact from the new standard, including consideration of control and process changes to capture lease data necessary to apply ASU 2016-02. The Company
anticipates  that  the  adoption  of  the  new  standard  will  result  in  recording  lease  assets  and  lease  liabilities  in  the  range  of  $165  million  and  $180  million  as  of
January  1,  2019.    In  addition,  the  Company  does  not  anticipate  a  material  impact  to  the  financial  statements  where  they  are  deemed  to  be  the  lessor  in  an
“embedded lease” arrangement. 

RECLASSIFICATIONS

Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation (see Note 1 regarding discontinued operations).

67

 
3 . Discontinued Operations

As  discussed  in  Note  1.  Basis  of  Presentation  above,  on  June  29,  2018,  the  Company  completed  the  spin-off  of  Veoneer  and  the  requirements  for  the
presentation  of Veoneer  as a discontinued  operation  were met on that date.  Accordingly, Veoneer’s  historical financial results are reflected  in the  Company’s
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  as  discontinued  operations.  The  Company  did  not  allocate  any  general  corporate  overhead  or  interest  expense  to
discontinued operations.

The  financial  results  of  Veoneer  are  presented  as  loss  from  discontinued  operations,  net  of  income  taxes  in  the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income.  The
following table presents the financial results of Veoneer (dollars in millions). 2018 includes six months of discontinued operations.

Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Research, development and engineering
   expenses, net
Goodwill, Impairment charge
Amortization of intangibles
Other income (expense), net
Operating loss
Loss from equity method investments
Interest income
Interest expense
Other non-operating items, net
Loss before income taxes
Income tax (expense) benefit
Loss from discontinued operations, net of
   income taxes
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
Net loss from discontinued operations

  $

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

2018

1,122.9    $
(896.4)    
226.5     
(59.7)    

2,245.8 
 $
(1,776.5)   
469.3 
(83.1)   

2,152.0 
(1,723.0)
429.0 
(81.7)

(224.0)    
—     
(10.5)    
(53.4)    
(121.1)    
(29.9)    
0.7     
(0.4)    
0.5     
(150.2)    
(43.6)    

(193.8)    
(8.3)    
(185.5)   $

(370.3)   
(234.2)   
(35.8)   
(0.2)   
(254.3)   
(30.7)   
— 
(0.1)   
(0.8)   
(285.9)   
0.9 

(285.0)   
(126.1)   
(158.9)  $

(293.7)
— 
(33.2)
(3.7)
16.7 
— 
— 
(0.2)
3.1 
19.6 
(17.9)

1.7 
(7.0)
8.7

  $

The Company has incurred $84.8 million in separation costs related to the spin-off of Veoneer, of which $76.3 million has been incurred 2018 year to date and is
reported in Other income (expense), net. These costs are primarily related to professional fees associated with planning the spin-off, as well as spin-off activities
within finance, tax, legal and information system functions and certain investment banking fees incurred upon the completion of the spin-off.

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
 
 
The  following  table  summarizes  the  carrying  value  of  major  classes  of  assets  and  liabilities  of  Veoneer,  reclassified  as  assets  and  liabilities  of  discontinued
operations at December 31, 2017 (dollars in millions).

ASSETS
Receivables, net
Inventories, net
Other current assets
Total current assets, discontinued operations

Property, plant and equipment, net
Investments and other non-current assets
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Total non-current assets, discontinued operations

LIABILITIES
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities, discontinued operations

Long-term debt
Pension liability
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities, discontinued operations

At December
31, 2017

  $

  $

  $

  $

460.5 
154.8 
31.9 
647.2 

364.2 
177.5 
291.8 
122.2 
955.7 

323.5 
199.1 
45.6 
568.2 

11.0 
19.1 
34.0 
64.1

In connection with the spin-off, Autoliv entered into definitive agreements with Veoneer that, among other matters, set forth the terms and conditions of the spin-
off and provide a framework for Autoliv’s relationship with Veoneer after the spin-off, including the following (collectively, the “Spin-off Agreements”):

Distribution Agreement

The Distribution Agreement sets forth the principal transactions taken by Veoneer and by Autoliv in connection with the spin-off and the terms to govern certain
aspects of the parties’ relationship following the spin-off. The Distribution Agreement also provides for cross-indemnities that, except as otherwise provided in the
Distribution  Agreement,  are  principally  designed  to  place  financial  responsibility  for  the  obligations  and  liabilities  of  Veoneer’s  business  with  Veoneer  and
financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Autoliv’s business with Autoliv. However, Autoliv has agreed to indemnify Veoneer for certain warranty,
recall and product liabilities for Electronics products manufactured prior to April 1, 2018, and has retained an indemnification liability.

Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement

Pursuant  to  the  Amended  and  Restated  Transition  Services  Agreement,  Autoliv  or  one  of  its  subsidiaries  will  provide  various  services  to  Veoneer  and  its
subsidiaries and Veoneer or one of its subsidiaries agreed to provide various services to Autoliv and subsidiaries of Autoliv for a limited time to help ensure an
orderly transition following the spin-off. The services will terminate no later than March 31, 2020.

Employee Matters Agreement

The  Employee  Matters  Agreement  governs  Autoliv’s  and  Veoneer’s  compensation  and  employee  benefit  obligations  with  respect  to  the  employees  and  non-
employee directors of each company.

Pursuant  to  the  Agreement,  the  Company  transferred  to  Veoneer  pension  benefits  and  postretirement  benefits  other  than  pension  related  to  Veoneer
employees. The transfer of assets and obligations to Veoneer resulted in a net decrease in the underfunded status of the sponsored pension and postretirement
benefits  other  than  pension  of  $22.8  million  and  the  transfer  of  unrecognized  losses  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  of  $6.3  million  on  the
Distribution Date.  

Tax Matters Agreement

Pursuant  to  the  Tax  Matters  Agreement,  Autoliv  and  Veoneer  allocated  the  liability  for  taxes  and  certain  tax  assets  between  the  two  companies.    The  Tax
Matters  Agreement  also  governs  the  parties’  respective  rights,  responsibilities,  and  obligations  with  respect  to  U.S.  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign  taxes
(including taxes arising in the ordinary course of business and taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the spin-off and certain related transactions to
qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes), tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings,
and assistance and cooperation in respect of tax matters.

69

 
 
 
 
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
   
   
 
 
Pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement, Autoliv is the primary obligor on all taxes which relate to any period prior to April 1, 2018. Consequently , the Company
is liable for any transition taxes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Reseller Agreements

Reseller agreements are primarily comprised of arrangements between Veoneer and Autoliv business units in Japan, the U. S., India and Sweden to address
situations in which customers have not yet been able to update their systems to reflect Veoneer as the supplier. Under the terms of these agreements and based
on the substance of the relationships with the customers, Veoneer has the responsibility to provide the products to the customers although orders may be placed
with Autoliv and Autoliv may collect the cash for the associated invoices which is then remitted to Veoneer.

Veoneer Capital Contribution

In connection with the spin-off, Autoliv capitalized Veoneer with approximately $1 billion of cash. Net assets of $2,129 million, including approximately $1 billion
of  cash,  were  transferred  to  Veoneer  on  or  prior  to  the  Distribution  Date,  including  $13  million  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  (primarily  related  to
pension and cumulative translation adjustment) and the non-controlling interest of $112 million. This resulted in a $2,030 million reduction to retained earnings.
In  the  second  half  of  2018  an  adjustment  to  the  cash  contribution  amount  of  $5  million  was  made  reducing  the  net  assets  contributed  to  Veoneer  to  $2,123
million.

The  following  table  presents  depreciation,  amortization,  capital  expenditures,  acquisition  of  businesses  and  significant  non-cash  items  of  the  discontinued
operations related to Veoneer (dollars in millions). 2018 includes six months of discontinued operations.

Depreciation
Amortization of intangible assets
Capital expenditures
Acquisition in affiliate, net
M/A-COM earn-out adjustment
Undistributed loss from equity method investment

4. Revenue

Disaggregation of revenue

  $

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

2018

44.8    $
10.5     
71.1     
71.0     
(14.0)    
29.9     

82.9    $
35.8     
109.6     
123.9     
(12.7)    
30.7     

69.7 
33.2 
100.9 
227.4 
— 
—

In the following tables, revenue from the Company’s continuing operations is disaggregated by primary regions and products.

Net Sales by Region

(Dollars in millions)

China
Japan
Rest of Asia
Americas
Europe
Total net sales

Net Sales by Products

(Dollars in millions)

Airbag Products and Other 1)
Seatbelt Products 1)
Total net sales

1) Including Corporate and other sales.

Contract balances

2018

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

1,522.2 
827.9 
844.8 
2,735.1 
2,748.2 
8,678.2 

 $

 $

1,421.2    $
787.0   
789.9   
2,435.2   
2,703.5   
8,136.8    $

1,385.4 
718.6 
726.2 
2,548.0 
2,543.4 
7,921.6

2018

Years ended December 31
2017

2016

5,698.6 
2,979.6 
8,678.2 

 $

 $

5,343.2    $
2,793.6   
8,136.8    $

5,256.4 
2,665.2 
7,921.6 

  $

  $

  $

  $

The contract assets relate to the Company's rights to consideration for work completed but not billed (generally in conjunction with contracts for which revenue is
recognized  over  time)  at  the  reporting  date  on  production  parts.  The  contract  assets  are  reclassified  into  the  receivables  balance  when  the  rights  to  receive
payments  become  unconditional.  There  have  been  no  impairment  losses  recognized  related  to  contract  assets  arising  from  the  Company’s  contracts  with
customers. Certain contracts have resulted in consideration in advance of fulfilling the performance obligations and the amounts received have been classified
as contract liabilities.

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
     
       
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
     
       
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
     
       
       
 
The following tables provides information about receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities from contra cts with customers.

Contract Balances with Customers
(Dollars in millions)

Receivables, net
Contract assets 1)
Contract liabilities 2)
1) Included in other current assets.

2) Included in other current and other non-current liabilities.

Receivables, net of allowance

(Dollars in millions)

Receivables
Allowance at beginning of period

Net decrease/(increase) of allowance
Translation difference
Allowance at end of period
Receivables, net of allowance

At December 31

2018

2017

1,652.1    $
19.5     
29.4     

1,696.7 
— 
33.0 

At December 31

2018

2017

1,659.4    $
(6.3)    
(1.3)    
0.3     
(7.3)    
1,652.1    $

1,703.0 
(4.2)
(1.8)
(0.3)
(6.3)
1,696.7

  $

  $

  $

Changes in the contract assets and the contract liabilities balances during the period are as follows:

Change in Contract Balances with Customers
(Dollars in millions)

Beginning balance
Increases/(decreases) due to cumulative catch up
   adjustment
Increases/(decreases) due to revenue recognized
Increases/(decreases) due to cash received
Increases/(decreases) due to transfer to receivables
Translation difference
Ending balance

At December 31, 2018
  Contract assets     Contract liabilities  
33.0 
—    $
  $

15.0     
75.6     
—     
(71.1)   
—     
19.5    $

— 
(7.4)
— 
— 
3.8 
29.4

  $

The increases/(decreases) in the table above related to contracts assets reflect the total adjustments needed to align revenue recognition for work completed but
not billed at year end.

5. Fair Value Measurements

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A RECURRING BASIS

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other current liabilities and short-term debt approximate their fair value
because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

The Company uses derivative financial instruments,  “derivatives”, as part  of its debt management  to mitigate  the market risk that occurs from  its exposure to
changes in interest and foreign exchange rates. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes. The Company’s use of
derivatives is in accordance with the strategies contained in the Company’s overall financial policy. All derivatives are recognized in the consolidated financial
statements at fair value. Certain derivatives are from time to time designated either as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges in line with the hedge accounting
criteria. For certain other derivatives hedge accounting is not applied either because non-hedge accounting treatment creates the same accounting result or the
hedge does not meet the hedge accounting requirements, although entered into applying the same rationale concerning mitigating market risk that occurs from
changes in interest and foreign exchange rates.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of the instruments generally correlates  to the level of pricing observability.  Pricing observability is
impacted by a number of factors, including the type of asset or liability, whether the asset or liability has an established market and the characteristics specific to
the transaction. Instruments with readily active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher
degree of pricing observability and a lesser degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Conversely, assets rarely traded or not quoted will generally have
less, or no, pricing observability and a higher degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value.

71

 
     
       
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
   
      
  
     
       
 
 
     
       
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
Under existing GAAP, there is a disclosu re framework hierarchy associated with the level of pricing observability utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair
value. The three broad levels defined by the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reported date.

Level 2 - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date. The nature of
these  assets  and  liabilities  include  items  for  which  quoted  prices  are  available  but  traded  less  frequently,  and  items  that  are  fair  valued  using  other  financial
instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed.

Level 3 - Assets and liabilities that have little to no pricing observability as of the reported date. These items do not have two-way markets and are measured
using management’s best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

The  Company’s  derivatives  are  all  classified  as  Level  2  of  the  fair  value  hierarchy  and  there  were  no  transfers  between  the  levels  during  this  or  comparable
periods.

The  tables  below  present  information  about  the  Company’s  financial  assets  and  liabilities  measured  at  fair  value  on  a  recurring  basis  for  the  continuing
operations  as  of  December  31,  2018  and  December  31,  2017.  The  carrying  value  is  the  same  as  the  fair  value  as  these  instruments  are  recognized  in  the
consolidated  financial  statements  at  fair  value.  Although  the  Company  is  party  to  close-out  netting  agreements  (ISDA  agreements)  with  all  derivative
counterparties, the fair values in the tables below and in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 have been presented
on a gross basis. According to the close-out netting agreements, transaction amounts payable to a counterparty on the same date and in the same currency can
be netted. The amounts subject to netting agreements that the Company choose not to offset are presented below.

DERIVATIVES DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

There were no derivatives designated as hedging instruments as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 related to the continuing operations.

DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

Derivatives  not  designated  as  hedging  instruments,  relate  to  economic  hedges  and  are  marked  to  market  with  all  amounts  recognized  in  the  Consolidated
Statements  of  Net  Income.  The  derivatives  not  designated  as  hedging  instruments  outstanding  at  December  31,  2018  and  December  31,  2017  were  foreign
exchange swaps. For 2018, the gains and losses recognized in other non-operating items, net are a loss of $1.5 million for derivative instruments not designated
as hedging instruments. For 2017, the Company recognized a gain of $1.2 million in other non-operating items, net for derivative instruments not designated as
hedging instruments.  For 2016, the  Company recognized  a gain of $1.3 million in other non-operating  items,  net for derivative instruments not  designated  as
hedging instruments. For 2018, 2017 and 2016, the gains and losses recognized as interest expense were immaterial.

Description
DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED
   AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
Foreign exchange swaps, less
   than 6 months
TOTAL DERIVATIVES NOT
   DESIGNATED AS HEDGING
   INSTRUMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2018

Fair Value Measurements

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Fair Value Measurements

Nominal
volume

Derivative   asset
(Other current
assets)

Derivative liability
(Other current
liabilities)

Nominal
volume

Derivative asset
(Other current
assets)

Derivative liability
(Other current
liabilities)

659.1  1) 

1.9  2) 

1.1  3) 

468.2  4) 

2.4  5) 

0.3  6)

  $

659.1    $

1.9    $

1.1    $

468.2    $

2.4    $

0.3   

1 )
2 )
3 )
4 )
5 )
6 )

Net nominal amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $659.1 million.
Net amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $1.9 million.
Net amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $1.1 million.
Net nominal amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $468.2 million.
Net amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $2.4 million.
Net amount after deducting for offsetting swaps under ISDA agreements is $0.3 million.

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
F AIR VALUE OF DEBT

The fair value of long-term debt is determined either from quoted market prices as provided by participants in the secondary market or for long-term debt without
quoted market prices, estimated using a discounted cash flow method based on the Company’s current borrowing rates for similar types of financing. The fair
value and carrying value of debt is summarized in the table below. The Company has determined that each of these fair value measurements  of debt reside
within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

On June 18, 2018, Autoliv announced that it priced a 5-year bond offering of EUR 500 million in the Eurobond market (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued on
June 26, 2018, at an issue price of 99.527%, and carry a coupon of 0.75% (paid annually in arrears), which implies a per annum yield of 0.847%.

The fair value and carrying value of debt for the continuing operations are summarized in the table below (dollars in millions).

  DECEMBER 31, 2018     DECEMBER 31, 2018     DECEMBER 31, 2017     DECEMBER 31, 2017  
  CARRYING VALUE 1)    

    CARRYING VALUE 1)    

FAIR VALUE

FAIR VALUE

LONG-TERM DEBT
U.S. Private placement
Eurobond
Other long-term debt
TOTAL

SHORT-TERM DEBT
Commercial paper
Short-term portion of long-term debt
Overdrafts and other short-term debt
TOTAL

1)

Debt as reported in balance sheet.

  $

  $

  $

  $

1,041.0    $
568.0   
—   

1,609.0    $

342.6    $
268.1   
10.0   
620.7    $

1,061.1    $
567.8   
—   

1,628.9    $

342.6    $
270.4   
10.0   
623.0    $

1,310.5    $

—   
0.2   
1,310.7    $

—    $
0.2   
19.5   
19.7    $

1,379.9 
— 
0.2 
1,380.1 

— 
0.2 
19.5 
19.7

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE ON A NON-RECURRING BASIS

In addition to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company also has assets and liabilities in its balance sheet that are
measured  at  fair value on a nonrecurring  basis including certain  long-lived assets,  including equity  method  investments,  goodwill and other  intangible  assets,
typically as it relates to impairment.

The Company has determined that the fair value measurements included in each of these assets and liabilities rely primarily on Company-specific inputs and the
Company’s  assumptions  about  the  use  of  the  assets  and  settlements  of  liabilities, as  observable  inputs  are  not  available.  The  Company  has  determined  that
each of these fair value measurements reside within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. To determine the fair value of long-lived assets, the Company utilizes the
projected cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived assets, then discounts the future cash flows over the expected life of the long-lived assets.

For 2018-2016, the Company did not record any material impairment charges on its long-lived assets for its continuing operations.

6. Income Taxes

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
U.S.
Non-U.S.
Total

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
Current

U.S. federal
Non-U.S.
U.S. state and local

Deferred

U.S. federal
Non-U.S.
U.S. state and local
Total income tax expense

  $

  $

  $

2018

2017

2016

47.0    $
565.4     
612.4    $

89.0    $
703.4     
792.4    $

172.0 
612.2 
784.2

2018

2017

2016

31.6    $
192.7     
10.1     

53.4    $
162.8     
9.9     

79.2 
167.6 
3.5 

0.8     
(0.2)    
(0.1)    
234.9    $

21.8     
(44.4)    
0.9     
204.4    $

(15.8)
(9.7)
(0.5)
224.3

  $

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
      
      
  
   
   
 
   
      
      
  
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
 
EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATE
U.S. federal income tax rate
Foreign tax rate variances
Tax credits
Change in Valuation Allowances
Current year losses with no benefit
Net operating loss carry-forwards
Changes in tax reserves
U.S. Expense Allocation
Earnings of equity investments
Withholding taxes
State taxes, net of federal benefit
Antitrust settlement
U.S. GILTI Tax
Change in U.S. tax rate
Deemed mandatory repatriation
Other, net
Effective income tax rate

2018

2017

2016

21.0  %  
5.5   
(3.9)  
(3.2)  
0.5   
(0.1)  
3.4   
0.0   
(0.1)  
3.5   
1.1   
9.9   
1.7   
—   
—   
(0.9)  
38.4  %  

35.0  %  
(7.4)  
(3.3)  
(4.8)  
0.3   
(3.7)  
0.8   
2.0   
(0.1)  
2.1   
0.3   
—   
—   
3.0   
3.1   
(1.5)  
25.8  %  

35.0  %
(6.4)  
(2.8)  
1.3   
1.2   
(3.4)  
0.5   
2.0   
(0.1)  
2.5   
0.2   
—   
—   
—   
—   
(1.4)  
28.6  %

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including
reducing  the  U.S.  federal  corporate  income  tax  rate  from  35%  to  21%  for  years  beginning  after  December  31,  2017,  requiring  companies  to  pay  a  one-time
transition  tax  on  earnings  of  certain  foreign  subsidiaries  that  were  previously  deferred  and  created  new  taxes  on  certain  foreign  sourced  earnings.  The  SEC
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) on December 22, 2017. SAB 118 was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a
registrant did not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for
certain  income  tax  effects  of  the  Tax  Act.  In  2017,  we  made  a  reasonable  estimate  of  the  effects  on  our  existing  deferred  tax  balances  and  the  one-time
transition tax and recorded provisional amounts. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company filed its 2017 Federal and State tax returns and finalized calculations
related to transition tax and deferred tax assets and liabilities previously recorded in the year ended December 31, 2017.

Final Impacts from the Tax Act

Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  :  In  December  2017,  we  remeasured  certain  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  based  on  the  rates  at  which  they  were
expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%. There was not a material difference between the provisional amounts recorded for deferred tax assets
and liabilities in December 2017 and the final amounts updated in the fourth quarter 2018 after the completion of the 2017 tax returns.

Foreign tax effects: The one-time transition tax is based on our total post-1986 earnings and profits (E&P) that we previously deferred from U.S. income taxes.
In December 2017, we recorded a provisional amount of income tax expense for the one-time transition tax.  The final amount reported on the 2017 tax returns
was  not  materially  different  from  the  amount  previously  recorded.    However,  due  to  the  uncertainties  inherent  in the  calculations  of  the  transition  tax  and  the
determination of more than twenty years of E&P history, in the fourth quarter of 2018, we have recorded a tax reserve of $24 million related to the transition tax.
No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax, or any additional outside basis
difference  inherent  in  these  entities,  as  these  amounts  continue  to  be  indefinitely  reinvested  in  foreign  operations.  Determining  the  amount  of  unrecognized
deferred tax liability relating to any remaining outside basis difference in these entities (i.e., basis difference in excess of that subject to the one-time transition
tax) is not practical.

Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”): The Tax Act created a new requirement that certain income (i.e., GILTI) earned by foreign subsidiaries must
be included currently in the gross income of the U.S. shareholder. Under U.S. GAAP, we are permitted to make an accounting policy election to either treat taxes
due on future inclusions in U.S. taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred or to factor such amounts into our measurement of
our  deferred  taxes.  We  have  elected  to  treat  the  impact  of  GILTI  as  a  current-period  expense  when  incurred.  In  2018,  the  negative  impact  of  GILTI  on  our
effective tax rate is approximately 1.7% due to the cost of expenses allocated against GILTI that limit the foreign tax credits available for offset against the U.S.
tax cost on the GILTI inclusion.    

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes
and  the  amounts  used  for  income  tax  purposes.  On  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  had  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  (NOL’s)  of  approximately  $283
million, of which approximately $266 million have no expiration  date. The remaining losses expire on various dates through  2029. The Company  also has $9
million of U.S. Foreign Tax Credit carry forwards, which begin to expire in 2026 and $7 million of U.S. capital loss carryforwards which begin to expire in 2022.

74

 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Valuation allowances  have  been  established  which  partially  offset  the  related  deferred  assets.  Such  allowances  are  primarily  provided  against  NOL’s  of  com
panies that have perennially incurred losses, as well as the NOL’s of companies that are start-up operations and have not established a pattern of profitability.
The Company assesses all available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine the amount of any required valuation allowance. In 201 8 , the Company
recognized a tax benefit of $ 3 7 million due to the reversal of valuation allowances. This consisted primarily of the reversal of valuation allowances on deferred
tax assets, net operating loss carryforwards, and foreign tax credits in Sweden and the reversal of valuation allowances against foreign tax cred it carryforwards
in the U.S. that were utilized in the final calculation of the transition tax.

The  foreign  tax  rate  variance  reflects  the  fact  that  approximately  two-thirds  of  the  Company’s  non-U.S.  pre-tax  income  is  generated  by  business  operations
located  in  tax  jurisdictions  where  the  tax  rate  is  between  20-30%.  The  tax  rate  from  quarter  to  quarter  and  from  year  to  year  is  also  impacted  by  the  mix  of
earnings and tax rates in various jurisdictions compared to the same periods or prior years.

The Company has reserves for income taxes that may become payable in future periods as a result of tax audits. These reserves represent the Company’s best
estimate  of  the  potential  liability  for  tax  exposures.  Inherent  uncertainties  exist  in  estimates  of  tax  exposures  due  to  changes  in  tax  law,  both  legislated  and
concluded through the various jurisdictions’ court systems. The Company files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction, and various states and
non-U.S. jurisdictions.

At any given time, the Company is undergoing tax audits in several tax jurisdictions, covering multiple years. The Company is no longer subject to income tax
examination by the U.S. Federal tax authorities for years prior to 2015. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examination by U.S.
state or local tax authorities or by non-U.S. tax authorities for years before 2010. The Company is undergoing tax audits in several non-U.S. jurisdictions and
several  U.S.  state  jurisdictions,  covering  multiple  years.  As  of  December  31,  2018,  as  a  result  of  those  tax  examinations,  the  Company  is  not  aware  of  any
proposed  income  tax  adjustments  that  would  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company’s  financial  statements,  however,  other  audits  could  result  in  additional
increases or decreases to the unrecognized tax benefits in some future period or periods.

The Company recognizes interest and potential penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense. As of December 31, 2017, the Company
had  recorded  $34.6  million  for  unrecognized  tax  benefits  related  to  prior  years,  including  $6.3  million  of  accrued  interest  and  penalties.  During  2018,  the
Company recorded  a net increase of $24.0 million to income tax reserves for unrecognized  tax benefits related to the transition tax reported on the 2017 tax
return due to uncertainty surrounding the calculations. Also during 2018, the Company recorded a net decrease of $4.2 million to income tax reserves for other
unrecognized tax benefits based on tax positions related to the current and prior years. The Company had $6.6 million accrued for the payment of interest and
penalties as of December 31, 2018. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits of $54.4 million recorded at December 31, 2018, $4.0 million is classified as current
income  tax  payable,  and  $50.4  million  is  classified  as  non-current  tax  payable  included  in  Other  Non-Current  Liabilities  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets.
Substantially  all  of  these  reserves  would  impact  the  effective  tax  rate  if  released  into  income.  The  following  table  summarizes  the  activity  related  to  the
Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:

UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year

2018

2017

2016

  $

29.6    $

27.2    $

25.2 

Increases as a result of tax positions taken during a prior
   period
Decreases as a result of tax positions taken during a prior
   period
Increases as a result of tax positions taken during the current
   period
Decreases as a result of tax positions taken during the
   current period
Decreases relating to settlements with taxing authorities
Decreases resulting from the lapse of the applicable statute
   of limitations
Translation Difference

Total unrecognized tax benefits at end of year

24.0     

2.0     

4.5 

—     

—     

(0.2)

4.7     

6.8     

(3.1)    
(3.2)    

(1.5)    
(0.9)    
49.6    $

—     
(7.1)    

(0.3)    
1.0     
29.6    $

5.8 

(1.7)
(1.3)

(3.5)
(1.6)
27.2

  $

75

 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
The tax effect of temporary differences and carryforwards that comprise significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows.

DEFERRED TAXES
DECEMBER 31
Assets
Provisions
Costs capitalized for tax
Property, plant and equipment
Retirement Plans
Tax receivables, principally NOL’s
Deferred tax assets before allowances
Valuation allowances
Total

Liabilities
Acquired intangibles
Statutory tax allowances
Distribution taxes
Other
Total
Net deferred tax asset

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $
  $

104.9    $
18.2     
13.0     
50.1     
113.9     
300.1    $
(71.0)    
229.1    $

(6.1)   $
(0.5)    
(22.9)    
(10.1)    
(39.6)   $
189.5    $

107.3    $
18.6     
14.2     
50.0     
150.2     
340.3    $
(110.6)    
229.7    $

(6.6)   $
—     
(22.8)    
(3.9)    
(33.3)   $
196.4    $

101.5 
16.8 
18.2 
65.5 
211.7 
413.7 
(199.6)
214.1 

(12.3)
— 
(16.0)
(4.9)
(33.2)
180.9

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s valuation allowances:

VALUATION ALLOWANCES AGAINST DEFERRED
TAX ASSETS DECEMBER 31
Allowances at beginning of year
Benefits reserved current year
Benefits recognized current year
Write-offs and other changes
Translation difference
Allowances at end of year

7. Receivables

DECEMBER 31
Receivables
Allowance at beginning of year

Reversal of allowance
Addition to allowance
Write-off against allowance
Translation difference
Allowance at end of year
Total receivables, net of allowance

8. Inventories

DECEMBER 31
Raw material
Work in progress
Finished products
Inventories
Inventory reserve at beginning of year

Reversal of reserve
Addition to reserve
Write-off against reserve
Translation difference

Inventory reserve at end of year
Total inventories, net of reserve

2018

2017

2016

110.6    $
6.4     
(36.9)    
—     
(9.1)    
71.0    $

199.6    $
22.9     
(117.0)    
(0.1)    
5.2     
110.6    $

177.7 
32.3 
(13.8)
(0.5)
3.9 
199.6  

2018
1,659.4    $
(6.3)   $
0.9     
(3.8)    
1.6     
0.3     
(7.3)   $
1,652.1    $

2017
1,703.0    $
(4.2)   $
0.9     
(3.9)    
1.2     
(0.3)    
(6.3)   $
1,696.7    $

2016
1,519.3 
(3.9)
0.5 
(1.5)
0.5 
0.2 
(4.2)
1,515.1

2018

2017

2016

370.9    $
277.4     
194.7     
843.0    $
(80.6)   $
1.4     
(13.9)    
5.3     
2.7     
(85.1)   $
757.9    $

333.2    $
263.8     
187.9     
784.9    $
(76.7)   $
4.8     
(7.3)    
5.2     
(6.6)    
(80.6)   $
704.3    $

286.4 
233.1 
166.2 
685.7 
(68.2)
2.9 
(16.2)
3.0 
1.8 
(76.7)
609.0

  $

  $

  $
  $

  $
  $

  $

  $
  $

  $
  $

76

 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
      
      
  
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
9 . Investments and Other Non- C urrent Assets

DECEMBER 31
Equity method investments
Deferred tax assets
Income tax receivables
Other non-current assets
Investments and other non-current assets

2018

2017

  $

  $

12.5    $

235.6   
33.6   
41.8   
323.5    $

12.9 
248.9 
30.4 
48.8 
341.0

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had one equity method investment.

The Company has ownership of 49% in Autoliv-Hirotako Safety Sdn, Bhd (parent and subsidiaries) in Malaysia which it currently does not control, but in which it
exercises significant influence over operations and financial position.

10. Property, Plant and Equipment

DECEMBER 31
Land and land improvements
Machinery and equipment
Buildings
Construction in progress
Property, plant and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Net of depreciation

DEPRECIATION INCLUDED IN
Cost of sales
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Research, development and engineering expenses, net
Total

Estimated
life
n/a to 15
3-8
20-40
n/a

2018

114.7    $
3,496.8     
822.9     
374.3     
4,808.7    $
(3,118.6)    
1,690.1    $

2017

113.4   
3,276.1   
816.2   
370.6   
4,576.3   
(2,967.4)  
1,608.9   

2018

2017

2016

300.9    $
13.9     
15.9     
330.7    $

268.9    $
12.5     
14.5     
295.9    $

248.3 
8.6 
12.7 
269.6

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

No significant fixed asset impairments related to the Company’s continuing operations were recognized during 2018, 2017 or 2016.

The net book value of machinery and equipment and buildings and land under capital lease contracts recorded at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
were immaterial. The amortization expense related to capital leases is included with depreciation expenses disclosed in the table above.

11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

GOODWILL
Carrying amount at beginning of year
Translation differences
Carrying amount at end of year

2018

2017

1,397.0    $ 1,380.6 
16.4 
1,389.9    $ 1,397.0

(7.1)  

$

$

Approximately $1.2 billion of the Company’s goodwill is associated with the 1997 merger of Autoliv AB and the Automotive Safety Products Division of Morton
International, Inc. No goodwill impairment charges were recognized in continuing operations during 2018, 2017 or 2016.

AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLES
Gross carrying amount
Accumulated amortization
Carrying value

2018

2017

  $

  $

391.6    $
(358.9)  

32.7    $

355.0 
(312.4)
42.6

At  December  31,  2018,  intangible  assets  subject  to  amortization  mainly  relate  to  acquired  technology.  No  significant  impairments  of  intangible  assets  were
recognized during 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Amortization  expense  related  to  intangible  assets  was  $11.3  million,  $11.2  million  and  $10.5  million  in  2018,  2017  and  2016,  respectively.  Estimated  future
amortization expense is (in millions): 2019: $11.6; 2020: $10.2; 2021: $9.1; 2022: $1.2 and 2023: $0.6.

12. Restructuring

Restructuring provisions are made on a case-by-case basis and primarily include severance costs incurred in connection with headcount reductions and plant
consolidations. The Company expects to finance restructuring programs over the next several years through cash

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
generated  from its ongoing operations  or through  cash  available  under  its existing  credit  facilities.  The  Company  does  not  expect  that  the  execution  of  these
programs  will have  an adverse  impact on its liquidity  position.  The chang es in the employee-related  reserves have been ch  arged against Other income (ex
pense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income.

The majority of the reserve balance as of December 31, 2018 pertains to restructuring activities initiated in Western Europe in the past few years. The Company
anticipates that its restructuring initiatives in Western Europe for a number of plants, none of which are individually or in the aggregate material as of December
31, 2018, will continue through dates ranging from 2019 through 2021. The total amount of costs expected to be incurred in connection with these restructuring
activities ranges from approximately $11 million to $31 million for each individual activity. In the aggregate, the cost for these Western European restructuring
initiatives is approximately $109 million and the remaining restructuring liability as of December 31, 2018 is approximately $27 million out of the $33 million total
reserve balance.

2018

In 2018, the employee-related restructuring provisions, made on a case-by-case basis, related mainly to headcount reductions in high-cost countries in Western
Europe. Cash payments related mainly to high-cost countries in Western Europe. The table below summarizes the change in the balance sheet position of the
restructuring reserves from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2018 related to the continuing operations.

Restructuring employee-related
Other
Total reserve

2017

  December 31  
2017

  Provision/

Charge

  Provision/
  Reversal

Cash
  payments  

  Translation  
  difference  

  December 31  
2018

  $

  $

39.4    $
0.2     
39.6    $

9.0    $
0.2     
9.2    $

(0.1)   $
—     
(0.1)   $

(13.6)   $
—     
(13.6)   $

(1.5)   $
(0.2)    
(1.7)   $

33.2 
0.2 
33.4

In 2017, the employee-related restructuring provisions, made on a case-by-case basis, and cash payments related mainly to headcount reductions in high-cost
countries in Western Europe and Japan. The table below summarizes the change in the balance sheet position of the restructuring reserves from December 31,
2016 to December 31, 2017 related to the continuing operations.

Restructuring employee-related
Other
Total reserve

2016

  December 31  
2016

  Provision/

Charge

  Provision/
  Reversal

Cash
  payments  

  Translation  
  difference  

  December 31  
2017

  $

  $

35.7    $
0.1     
35.8    $

29.3    $
0.2     
29.5    $

(6.9)   $
—     
(6.9)   $

(23.3)   $
—     
(23.3)   $

4.6    $
(0.1)    
4.5    $

39.4 
0.2 
39.6

In 2015, the employee-related restructuring provisions, made on a case-by-case basis, and cash payments related mainly to headcount reductions in high-cost
countries in Western Europe and Korea. The table below summarizes the change in the balance sheet position of the restructuring reserves from December 31,
2015 to December 31, 2016 related to the continuing operations.

Restructuring employee-related
Other
Total reserve

13. Product Related Liabilities

  December 31  
2015

  Provision/

Charge

  Provision/
  Reversal

Cash
  payments  

  Translation  
  difference  

  December 31  
2016

  $

  $

86.9    $
0.2     
87.1    $

23.6    $
0.1     
23.7    $

(2.6)   $
—     
(2.6)   $

(71.3)   $
—     
(71.3)   $

(0.9)   $
(0.2)    
(1.1)   $

35.7 
0.1 
35.8

Autoliv is exposed to product liability and warranty claims in the event that the Company’s products fail to perform as represented and such failure results, or is
alleged  to  result,  in  bodily  injury,  and/or  property  damage  or  other  loss.  The  Company  has  reserves  for  product  risks.  Such  reserves  are  related  to  product
performance issues including recall, product liability and warranty issues. For further information, see Note 18.

The Company records liabilities for product related risks when probable claims are identified and when it is possible to reasonably estimate costs. Provisions for
warranty claims are estimated based on prior experience, likely changes in performance of newer products, and the mix and volume of the products sold. The
provisions are recorded on an accrual basis.

78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Pursuant to the Spin-off Agreements, Autoliv is also required to indemnify Veoneer for recalls related to certain qualified Electronics products. At December 31,
2018,  the  indemnification  liabilities  are  approximately  $12  million  within  accrued  expenses  on  the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet.  Insurance  receivables  are
included within Other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.  

The  decrease  in  reserves  in  2018  was  mainly  due  to  a  lower  recalls  and  higher  cash  payments.  A  majority  of  the  Company’s  recall  related  issues  as  of
December 31, 2018 are covered by insurance. Insurance receivables are included within other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The decrease
in reserves in 2017 was mainly due to a decrease in recall related issues and payments, while the increase in reserves in 2016 was mainly due to recall related
issues. Cash payments in 2018 were mainly recall related. Cash payments in 2017 were mainly recall related, while 2016 were mainly warranty related.

The table below summarizes the change in the balance sheet position of the product related liabilities.

Reserve at beginning of the year
Change in reserve
Cash payments
Translation difference
Reserve at end of the year

14. Debt and Credit Agreements

SHORT-TERM DEBT

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

95.6    $
20.6     
(54.3)    
0.3     
62.2    $

90.6    $
32.2     
(29.4)    
2.2     
95.6    $

39.0 
68.1 
(15.6)
(0.9)
90.6  

As of December 31, 2018, total short-term debt was $621 million. Short-term debt consisted of $208 million U.S. Private Placement loan maturing in April 2019,
$60 million U.S. Private Placement loan maturing in November 2019, and $343 million commercial paper loans with maturities in Q1 and Q2 2019.

The Company’s subsidiaries have credit agreements, principally in the form of overdraft facilities with several local banks. Total available short-term facilities as
of December 31, 2018, excluding commercial paper facilities as described below, amounted to $381 million, of which approximately $10 million was utilized. The
weighted  average  interest  rate  on  total  short-term  debt  outstanding  at  December  31,  2018  and  2017,  excluding  the  short-term  portion  of long-term  debt,  was
1.4% and 2.0%, respectively.

LONG-TERM DEBT

As of December 31, 2018, total long-term debt was $1,609 million.

In June 2018, the Company issued EUR 500 million of 5-year notes in the Eurobond market. The notes carry a coupon of 0.75%.

In 2014, the Company issued   long-term debt securities in a U.S. Private Placement. The current long-term debt outstanding from the 2014 issuance consist of;
$275 million aggregate principal amount of 7-year senior notes with an interest rate of 3.51%; $297 million aggregate principal amount of 10-year senior notes
with  an  interest  rate  of  4.09%;  $285  million  aggregate  principal  amount  of  12-year  senior  notes  with  an  interest  rate  of  4.24%;  and  $185  million  aggregate
principal amount of 15-year senior notes with an interest rate of 4.44%.

CREDIT FACILITIES

In July 2016, the Company signed a $1,100 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility with 14 banks. The term of the facility was 5 years with two one-year
extension  options.  The  Company  has  utilized  these  extension  options  and  extended  the  maturity  to  July  2023.  The  Company  pays  a  commitment  fee  on  the
undrawn amount. The commitment fee is 35% of the applicable margin. The applicable margin is related to the Company’s credit rating. Given the Company’s
current  credit  rating  of  A-  from  S&P  Global  Ratings  the  applicable  margin  is  0.225%.    As  of  December  31,  2018,  and  December  31,  2017,  the  facility  was
unutilized.

The Company has two commercial paper programs: one SEK 7 billion (approx. $780 million) Swedish program and one $1.0 billion U.S. program. At December
31, 2018 a total of $343 million had been issued under these programs. Both programs were unutilized at December 31, 2017.

The Company is not subject to any financial covenants, i.e. performance related restrictions, in any of its significant long-term borrowings or commitments.

79

 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
CREDIT RISK

In the Company’s financial operations, credit risk arises in connection with cash deposits with banks and when entering into forward exchange agreements, swap
contracts or other financial instruments. In order to reduce this risk, deposits and financial instruments are only entered with a limited number of banks up to a
calculated risk amount of $150 million per bank for banks rated A- or above and up to $50 million for banks rated BBB+. The policy of the Company is to work
with banks that have a strong credit rating and that participate in the Company’s financing. In addition to this, deposits of up to an aggregate amount of $2 billion
can be placed in U.S. and Swedish government paper and in certain AAA rated money market funds. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had placed $1
million in money market funds.

The table below shows debt maturity as cash flow. For a description of hedging instruments used as part of debt management, see the Financial Instruments
section of Note 2 and Note 5.

DEBT PROFILE

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT BY EXPECTED MATURITY
Eurobond
U.S. private placement notes
Commercial papers
Other short-term debt
Total principal amount

  2019  
  $
—    $
  $ 268.0    $
  $ 342.6    $
  $ 10.1    $
  $ 620.7    $

2020  

  2021  

2022    

2023  

  Thereafter  

Total
long-
term  

Total

—    $
—    $
—    $ 275.0    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $ 275.0    $

—    $ 572.7    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $
—    $ 572.7    $

—    $ 572.7    $ 572.7   
767.0    $ 1,042.0    $ 1,310.0   
—    $ 342.6   
10.1   
—    $
767.0    $ 1,614.7    $ 2,235.4  1)

—     
—    $

1)

The difference between reported total debt and total principal amount is mainly related to capitalized debt issuance costs.

15. Shareholders’ Equity

The number of shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018 was 87,144,520.

DIVIDENDS
Cash dividend paid per share
Cash dividend declared per share

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)/ ENDING BALANCE 1)
Cumulative translation adjustments
Net (loss) gain of cash flow hedge derivatives
Net pension liability
Distribution to Veoneer
Total (ending balance)
Deferred taxes on the pension liability

2018

2017

2016

2.46    $
2.48    $

2.38    $
2.40    $

2.30 
2.32

2018

2017

2016

(381.2)   $
—     
(55.0)    
13.0 
(423.2)   $
15.4    $

(230.5)   $
(0.8)    
(56.2)    
—     
(287.5)   $
16.5    $

(493.5)
8.1 
(80.1)
— 
(565.5)
35.3

  $
  $

  $

  $
  $

1)

The components of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) are net of any related income tax effects.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program in 2000 authorizing the repurchase of 10 million shares and subsequently expanded
the  authorization  four  times  between  2000  and  2014  to  47.5  million  shares.  There  were  no  share  repurchases  made  during  2018.  The  Company  made
repurchases  during the  second quarter of 2017. There is no expiration date for the share  repurchase  program.  The Company is authorized  to repurchase  an
additional 2,986,288 shares under the program at December 31, 2018.

SHARES
Shares repurchased (shares in millions)
Cash paid for shares

2018

2017

2016

  $

—     
—    $

1.4     
157.0    $

— 
—

In  total,  Autoliv  has  repurchased  44.5  million  shares  between  May  2000  and  December  2018  for  cash  of  $2,498  million,  including  commissions.  Of  the  total
amount of repurchased shares, 23.6 million shares were utilized for the equity unit offering during 2009-2012. In addition, 5.3 million shares have been utilized
by the Stock Incentive Plan whereof 0.2 million, 0.2 million and 0.1 million were utilized during 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. At December 31, 2018, 15.7
million of the repurchased shares remain in treasury stock.

80

 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
1 6 . Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Payments for interest and income taxes were as follows:

Interest
Income taxes

17. Stock Incentive Plan

2018

2017

2016

  $
  $

66    $
214    $

64    $
204    $

64 
247  

Eligible employees and non-employee directors of Autoliv participate in the Autoliv, Inc.1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) and received Autoliv stock-based
awards  which  include  stock  options  (SOs),  restricted  stock  units  (RSUs)  and  performance  shares  (PSs).  In  connection  with  the  Veoneer  spin-off,  each
outstanding Autoliv stock-based award as of June 29, 2018 (the Distribution Date) was converted to a stock award that has underlying shares of both Autoliv and
Veoneer common shares.

The conversion that occurred on the Distribution Date was based on the following:

•

•

•

SOs - A number of SOs comprising 50% of the value of the outstanding SOs calculated immediately prior to the spin-off continued to be applicable
to Autoliv common stock. A number of SOs comprising the remaining 50% percent of the pre spin-off value were replaced with options to acquire
shares of Veoneer common stock.

RSUs  -  A  number  of  RSUs  comprising  50%  of  the  value  of  the  outstanding  RSUs  calculated  immediately  prior  to  the  spin-off  continued  to  be
applicable  to  Autoliv  common  stock.  A  number  of  RSUs  comprising  the  remaining  50%  of  the  pre  spin-off  value  were  replaced  with  RSUs  with
underlying Veoneer common stock.

PSs  -  Outstanding  PSs  pre  spin-off  were  converted  to  time-based  RSUs  and  were  divided  between  Autoliv  and  Veoneer  common  stock  in  the
same  manner  as  other  outstanding  RSUs  (as  described  above)  on  the  Distribution  Date.  The  number  of  outstanding  PSs  pre  spin-off  to  be
converted was determined based on pro-ration of the performance period such as:

1)

2)

The  level  of  actual  achievement  of  performance  goals  for  each  outstanding  PS  for  the  period  between  the  first  day  of  the  performance  period  and
December 31, 2017 (the “Performance Measurement Date”), referred to as “Level of Performance-to-Date”; and

The greater of the Level of Performance-to-Date and the target performance level for the period between the Performance Measurement Date and the
last day of the performance period.

In  each  case  above,  the  conversion  was  intended  to  generally  preserve  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  original  award  determined  as  of  the  Distribution  Date.  The
number of converted RSUs and SOs for Autoliv and Veoneer was based on the average of Autoliv closing stock prices for the last 5 trading days prior to the
spin-off  and  the  average  of  closing  stock  prices  of  Autoliv  and  Veoneer,  respectively,  for  the  first  5  trading  days  after  the  spin-off.  Accordingly,  50%  of  the
outstanding awards as of the Distribution Date, and the related exercise price, were converted to Adjusted Autoliv Awards using a conversion factor of 1.41.

As a result of the spin-off and the related conversion, it was determined that the stock based awards were modified in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation
– Stock Compensation. The fair value of the RSUs and SOs immediately before and after the modification was assessed in order to determine if the modification
resulted in any incremental compensation cost related to the awards, including consideration of the impact of conversion using the 5 trading day average. Based
on the valuation performed, it was determined that the conversion did not result in any incremental compensation cost for any of the outstanding awards. The
post spin-off stock-based compensation expense will be based on the original grant date fair value related to only Autoliv employees.

With  certain  limited  exceptions,  including  the  freezing  of  the  Performance  Measurement  Date  to  December  31,  2017  as  noted  above,  the  adjusted  SOs  and
RSUs outstanding after the spin-off are subject to the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting and expiration) that were applicable to such
Autoliv stock-based awards immediately prior to the conversion and as described below.

The fair value of the RSUs and PSs is calculated as the grant date fair value of the shares expected to be issued. The RSUs granted in 2018 and 2017 entitle
the grantee to receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying RSUs. The RSUs granted
prior to 2017 do not have dividend equivalent rights. For the grants made during 2018 and 2017, the fair value of a PS and a RSU was calculated by using the
closing stock price on the grant date. For the grants made during 2016 and earlier, the fair value of a RSU and a PS was estimated using the Black Scholes
valuation model to account for the difference  in the value of the awards resulting from such awards not having dividend equivalent  rights. The grant date fair
value for the RSUs on February 13, 2018 was $16.6 million (pre-spin grant date fair value). The amount of this cost attributable to Autoliv employees after the
spin-off will be amortized straight line over the vesting period.

81

 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant  to  the  Company’s  director  compensation  policy,  the  Company’s  non-employee  directors  receive  RSUs  as  payment  of  50%  of  their  annual  base
retainer, which RSUs vest in one installment on the earli er of the date of the next AGM or the first anniversary of the grant date, in each case subject to the
grantee’s continued service as a non-employee director on the vesting date with certain exceptions . The RSUs granted to the Company’s non-employee direct
ors entitle the grantee to receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying RSUs. The grant
date fair value for the RSUs granted in 2018 to the Company’s non-employee directors was $ 1.4 mi llion.

The source of the shares issued upon vesting of awards is generally from treasury shares. The Stock Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of up to 9,585,055
common shares for awards. At December 31, 2018, 6,394,392  of these shares have been issued for awards which includes 37,103 shares of common stock
issued to non-executive directors in satisfaction of all or a portion of his or her annual base retainer for service on the Board. Included within the RSUs granted in
2018 are 7,869 RSUs issued to non employee directors in satisfaction of all or a portion of his or her annual base retainer for service on the Board.

During 2015 and earlier, stock awards were granted in the form of SOs and RSUs. All SOs were granted for 10-year terms, had an exercise price equal to the
fair value of the share at the date of grant, and became exercisable after one year of continued employment following the grant date. The average grant date fair
values  of  SOs  were  calculated  using  the  Black-Scholes  valuation  model.  The  Company  used  historical  exercise  data  for  determining  the  expected  life
assumption. Expected volatility was based on historical and implied volatility.

The  Company  recorded  $9.1  million,  $6.1  million  and  $8.4  million  stock-based  compensation  expense  in  continuing  operations  related  to  RSUs  and  PSs  for
2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized is $10.3 million for RSUs and the weighted
average  period  over  which  this  cost  is  expected  to  be  recognized  is  approximately  1.7  years.  There  are  no  remaining  unrecognized  compensation  costs
associated with stock options.

Information on the number of RSUs, PSs and SOs related to the Stock Incentive Plan during the period of 2016 to 2018 is as follows.

RSUs
Weighted average fair value at grant date 1)

2018

2017

2016

  $

131.51    $

105.64    $

100.77 

Outstanding at beginning of year
Granted
Shares issued
Cancelled/Forfeited/Expired
Spin conversion 2)
Outstanding at end of year 3)

188,410     
131,246     
(84,425)    
(6,485)    
33,328     
262,074     

188,494     
84,771     
(70,795)    
(14,060)    
—     
188,410     

204,552 
71,870 
(66,651)
(21,277)
— 
188,494

1)
2)

3)

Weighted average fair value at grant date pre-spin.
Reflects  the  impact  of  the  cancellation  of  PS  awards  outstanding  as  of  the  Distribution  Date,  and  the  conversion  to  RSUs  in  accordance  with  the  conversion  factor
described above.
Outstanding at the end of 2018 reflects the RSUs held by employees of Autoliv and Veoneer, in accordance with the conversion factor described above. Outstanding at
the  end  of  2017  and  2016,  respectively  reflects  RSUs  held  by  employees  of  Autoliv.  The  corresponding  weighted  average  grant  date  fair  value  after  applying  the
conversion factor is $100.74 as of December 31, 2018.

The aggregate intrinsic value for RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2018 was $18.4 million.

PSs
Weighted average fair value at grant date 1)

2018

2017

2016

  $

105.87    $

105.87    $

98.57 

Outstanding at beginning of year
Change in performance conditions
Granted 2)
Shares issued
Cancelled/Forfeited/Expired
Spin conversion 3)
Outstanding at end of year 4)

139,891     
—     
588     
—     
(3,076)    
(137,403)    
—     

138,548     
(69,274)    
75,379     
—     
(4,762)    
—     
139,891     

— 
— 
143,740 
— 
(5,192)
— 
138,548

1)
2)
3)

4)

Weighted average fair value at grant date pre-spin.
2018 grants reflect awards issued pre-spin as a result of dividend equivalent rights.
Reflects  the  replacement  of  awards  due  to  the  spin-off.  Outstanding  PS  awards  were  converted  to  RSU  awards  in  accordance  with  the  conversion  factor  described
above.
O utstanding at the end of 2017 and 2016, respectively reflects PSs held by employees of Autoliv.

82

 
 
   
   
 
 
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
The PSs granted include assumptions regarding the ultimate number of shares that will be issued based on the probability of achievement of the performance
conditions. Changes in those assumptions result in changes in the estimated shares to be issued which is reflected in the “Change in performance conditions”
line above. 

SOs
Outstanding at Dec 31, 2015
Exercised
Cancelled/Forfeited/Expired
Outstanding at Dec 31, 2016
Exercised
Cancelled/Forfeited/Expired
Outstanding at Dec 31, 2017
Exercised
Cancelled/Forfeited/Expired
Spin conversion 1)
Outstanding at Dec 31, 2018 2)

OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
At December 31, 2016
At December 31, 2017
At December 31, 2018

Number
of options

Weighted
average
exercise
price

473,051    $
(51,084)   
(10,858)   
411,109    $
(100,184)   
(10,976)   
299,949    $
(92,485)   
—     
(65,390)   
142,074    $

254,842    $
299,949    $
142,074    $

87.88 
88.10 
102.31 
87.47 
79.58 
112.20 
89.20 
86.59 
— 
88.75 
63.43 

71.48 
89.20 
63.43

1)

2)

Reflects the cancellation of SOs outstanding as of the Distribution Date, and the conversion to new awards in accordance with the conversion factor described above.
The weighted average exercise price reflects the exercise price of the shares cancelled due to the spin-off.
Reflects outstanding SOs held by employees of Autoliv and Veoneer at the end of the year and the weighted average exercise price, in accordance with the conversion
factor described above.

The following summarizes information about SOs outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2018:

RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES
$11.57
$31.71
$47.52– $49.07
$51.74
$67.29
$80.40

Number
outstanding &

exercisable    

Remaining
contract life
(in years)

Weighted
average
exercise
price

5,885     
7,047     
27,553     
10,120     
37,768     
53,701     
142,074     

0.14    $
1.13     
3.64     
2.15     
5.14     
6.13     
4.64    $

11.57 
31.71 
48.30 
51.74 
67.29 
80.40 
63.43

The total aggregate intrinsic value, which is the difference between the exercise price and $70.23 (closing price per share at December 31, 2018), for all “in the
money” SOs, both outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2018, was $10.0 million.

18. Contingent Liabilities

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Various  claims,  lawsuits  and  proceedings  are  pending  or  threatened  against  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,  covering  a  range  of  matters  that  arise  in  the
ordinary  course  of  its  business  activities  with  respect  to  commercial,  product  liability  and  other  matters.  Litigation  is  subject  to  many  uncertainties,  and  the
outcome of any litigation cannot be assured. After discussions with counsel, and with the exception of losses resulting from the antitrust proceedings described
below, it is the opinion of management that the various legal proceedings and investigations to which the Company currently is a party will not have a material
adverse impact on the consolidated financial position of Autoliv, but the Company cannot provide assurance that Autoliv will not experience material litigation,
product liability or other losses in the future.

In October 2014, one of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiaries received a notice of deficiency from the state tax authorities from the state of São Paulo, Brazil
which, primarily, alleged violations of ICMS (VAT) payments and improper warehousing documentation. The aggregate assessment for all alleged violations was
R$81  million  (approximately  $21  million),  inclusive  of  fines,  penalties  and  interest.  The  Company  believed  that  a  loss  was  probable  with  respect  to  at  least  a
portion of the assessed amount and accrued an amount in 2015 that was not material to the Company’s results of operations. During the first quarter of 2018,
the Brazilian authorities offered an amnesty period which would allow taxpayers to reduce the penalties associated with eligible tax matters by up to 85%. During
the second quarter of 2018, the Company applied to participate in such tax amnesty program which was accepted by the Brazilian authorities. The Company
paid an immaterial amount during the period ended June 30, 2018 to resolve this matter.

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ANTITRUST MATTERS

Authorities  in several jurisdictions are currently  or have  been  conducting  broad,  and  in some cases,  long-running  investigations  of suspected  anti-competitive
behavior  among  parts  suppliers  in the  global  automotive  vehicle industry.  These  investigations  include,  but  are  not  limited to,  the  products  that  the  Company
sells.  In  addition  to  concluded  and  pending  matters,  authorities  of  other  countries  with  significant  light  vehicle  manufacturing  or  sales  may  initiate  similar
investigations. It is the Company’s policy to cooperate with governmental investigations.

European Commission (“EC”) Investigations:

On  June  7-9,  2011,  representatives  of  the  European  Commission  (“EC”),  the  European  antitrust  authority,  visited  two  facilities  of  a  Company  subsidiary  in
Germany to gather information for an investigation of anti-competitive behavior among suppliers of occupant safety systems.

On November  22,  2017,  the  EC concluded  a discrete  portion  of its investigation  and  imposed  a fine on the  Company  of  EUR 8.1  million (approximately  $9.7
million)  with  respect  to  this  portion  of  the  EC’s  overall  investigation  while  it  continues  the  more  significant  portion  of  its  investigation.  The  Company  paid  this
amount during the first quarter of 2018, and had previously accrued EUR 8.3 million (approximately $9.9 million) in 2017 with respect to this discrete portion of
the investigation.

Management  does  not  believe  the  outcome  of  this  discrete  portion  of  the  EC’s  investigation  as  noted  above  provides  an  indication  of  the  total  probable  loss
associated with the EC investigation as a whole. The Company believes that the EC will seek to impose a fine in connection with the remaining portion of the EC
investigation. According to management’s best estimation and based on advice of our legal counsel, the Company accrued EUR 184 million (approximately $210
million) during the fourth quarter of 2018, which was recorded in Accrued expenses and Other income (expense), net. The Company believes that a fine could
be issued during the first half of 2019, although this may be delayed. The fine would be payable within 90 days after the investigation is ultimately resolved and
would be denominated in euros.

South Africa Investigation:

In  August  2014,  the  Competition  Commission  of  South  Africa  (the  “CCSA”)  contacted  the  Company  regarding  an  investigation  into  the  Company’s  sales  of
occupant safety systems in South Africa. In September 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the CCSA in which the Company agreed to
pay an administrative penalty of R150 million (approximately $11 million), which the Competition Tribunal in South Africa confirmed on November 22, 2017. The
Company  had  previously  accrued  a  total  of  approximately  $6  million  in  2016  for  this  matter,  and  accrued  an  additional  $5  million  in  2017  with  respect  to  the
proposed settlement, and final payment of the settlement amount was made in February 2018.

Brazil Investigation:

On July 6, 2015, the Company learned that the General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (“CADE”) in Brazil had initiated an
investigation  of  an  alleged  cartel  involving  sales  in  Brazil  of  seatbelts,  airbags,  and  steering  wheels  by  the  Company’s  Brazilian  subsidiary  and  the  Brazilian
subsidiary of a competitor. In November 2016, the Company and the CADE entered into a settlement agreement with respect to this matter for an amount that is
not  material  to  the  Company’s  results  of  operations.  Settlement  amounts  were  accrued  for  this  matter  during  the  periods  ended  December  31,  2015  and
December 31, 2016, and final payment of the accrued amounts was made in 2017.

Civil Litigation :

The Company is subject to civil litigation alleging anti-competitive conduct in the U.S. and Canada. Specifically, the Company, several of its subsidiaries and its
competitors were named as defendants in a total of nineteen purported antitrust class action lawsuits filed between June 2012 and June 2015. Fifteen of these
lawsuits were filed in the U.S. and were consolidated in the Occupant Safety Systems (OSS) segment of the Automobile Parts Antitrust Litigation, a Multi-District
Litigation (MDL) proceeding in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Plaintiffs in the U.S. cases sought to represent four purported
classes - direct purchasers, auto dealers, end-payors, and, as of the filing of the last class action in June 2015, truck and equipment dealers - who purchased
occupant safety systems or components directly from a defendant, indirectly through purchases or leases of new vehicles containing such systems, or through
purchases of replacement parts.

In  May  2014,  the  Company,  without  admitting  any  liability,  entered  into  separate  settlement  agreements  with  the  direct  purchasers,  auto  dealers,  end-payors
plaintiff  classes,  which  were  granted  final  approval  by  the  MDL  court  in  2015  and  2016.  The  total  settlement  amount  of  $65  million  (later  reduced  to
approximately  $60.5  million  as  a  result  of  opt-outs  from  the  direct  purchaser  settlement)  was  expensed  in  2014.  In  April  2016,  the  Company  entered  into  a
settlement agreement with the truck and equipment dealers’ class, which was granted final approval by the MDL court in 2016, for an amount that is immaterial
to  the  Company’s  results  of  operations.  The  class  settlements  do  not  resolve  any  claims  of  settlement  class  members  who  opt-out  of  the  settlements  or  the
unasserted claims of any purchasers of occupant safety systems who are not otherwise included in a settlement class, such as states and municipalities. Two
direct purchasers opted out of the Company’s direct purchaser class settlement and several individuals and one insurer (and its affiliated entities) opted-out of
the end-payor class settlements, including the Company’s settlement.

84

 
In September 2016, the insurer (and its affiliated entities) that opted out of the end-payor class settlement filed an antitrust lawsuit in the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the venue for the MDL, against the Company and the other settling defendants in the end-payor class settlements. The
defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint on various grounds was granted in part and denied in part in August 2018. Since this decision, various amend ed
pleadings and motions have been made by insurer. To date, no decision has been rendered by the Court. The Company cannot predict or estimate the duration
or ultimate outcome of this matter.

In March 2015,  the  Company,  without  admitting  any liability, reached  agreements  regarding  additional  settlements  to resolve certain  direct  purchasers’  global
(including U.S.) or non-U.S. antitrust claims that were not covered by the direct purchaser class settlement described above. The total amount of these additional
settlements was $81 million. Autoliv expensed during the first quarter of 2015 approximately $77 million as a result of these additional settlements, net of existing
amounts that had been accrued in 2014.

The remaining four antitrust class action lawsuits were filed in Canada (Sheridan Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd. et al. v. Autoliv, Inc. et al., filed in the Ontario Superior
Court of Justice on January 18, 2013; M. Serge Asselin v. Autoliv, Inc. et al., filed in the Superior Court of Quebec on March 14, 2013; Ewert v. Autoliv, Inc. et
al., filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on July 18, 2013; and Cindy Retallick and Jagjeet Singh Rajput v. Autoliv ASP, Inc. et al., filed in the Queen’s
Bench  of  the  Judicial  Center  of  Regina  in  the  province  of  Saskatchewan  on  May  14,  2014)  asserting  claims  on  behalf  of  putative  classes  of  both  direct  and
indirect purchasers of occupant safety systems. In February 2017, the Company entered into, and the courts subsequently approved, a settlement agreement
with plaintiffs in three of the four class actions to settle on a nationwide class basis for an amount that is not material to the Company’s results of operations.
Settlement amounts were accrued for this matter during the period ended December 31, 2016 and final payment of the accrued amounts was made in 2017.
This national settlement includes the claims of the putative members of the fourth class action.

PRODUCT WARRANTY, RECALLS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Autoliv is exposed to various claims for damages and compensation if its products fail to perform as expected. Such claims can be made, and result in costs and
other losses to the Company, even where the product is eventually found to have functioned properly. Where a product (actually or allegedly) fails to perform as
expected or is defective, the Company may face warranty and recall claims. Where such (actual or alleged) failure or defect results, or is alleged to result, in
bodily  injury  and/or  property  damage,  the  Company  may  also  face  product  liability  and  other  claims.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company  will  not
experience  material  warranty,  recall  or  product  (or  other)  liability  claims  or  losses  in  the  future,  or  that  the  Company  will  not  incur  significant  costs  to  defend
against such claims. The Company may be required to participate in a recall involving its products. Each vehicle manufacturer has its own practices regarding
product recalls and other product liability actions relating to its suppliers. As suppliers become more integrally involved in the vehicle design process and assume
more  of  the  vehicle  assembly  functions,  vehicle  manufacturers  are  increasingly  looking  to  their  suppliers  for  contribution  when  faced  with  recalls  and  product
liability claims. Government safety regulators may also play a role in warranty and recall practices. A warranty, recall or product-liability claim brought against the
Company in excess of its insurance may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. Vehicle manufacturers are also increasingly requiring their
outside suppliers to guarantee or warrant their products and bear the costs of repair and replacement of such products under new vehicle warranties. A vehicle
manufacturer may attempt to hold the Company responsible for some, or all, of the repair or replacement costs of products when the product supplied did not
perform as represented by us or expected by the customer. Accordingly, the future costs of warranty claims by the customers may be material. However, the
Company believes its established reserves are adequate. Autoliv’s warranty reserves are based upon the Company’s best estimates of amounts necessary to
settle  future  and  existing  claims.  The  Company  regularly  evaluates  the  adequacy  of  these  reserves,  and  adjusts  them  when  appropriate.  However,  the  final
amounts actually due related to these matters could differ materially from the Company’s recorded estimates.

In addition, as vehicle manufacturers increasingly use global platforms and procedures, quality performance evaluations are also conducted on a global basis.
Any  one  or  more  quality,  warranty  or  other  recall  issue(s)  (including  those  affecting  few  units  and/or  having  a  small  financial  impact)  may  cause  a  vehicle
manufacturer to implement measures such as a temporary or prolonged suspension of new orders, which may have a material impact on the Company’s results
of operations.

The Company carries insurance for potential recall and product liability claims at coverage levels based on our prior claims experience. In addition, a number of
the agreements entered into by the Company, including the Spin-off Agreements, require Autoliv to indemnify the other parties for certain claims. Autoliv cannot
assure that the level of coverage will be sufficient to cover every possible claim that can arise in our businesses or with respect to other obligations, now or in the
future, or that such coverage always will be available should we, now or in the future, wish to extend, increase or otherwise adjust our insurance.

85

 
Toyota Recall:

On  June  29,  2016,  the  Company  announced  that  it  is  cooperating  with  Toyota  Motor  Corp.  in  its  recall  of  approximately  1.4  million  vehicles  equipped  with  a
certain model of the Company’s side curtain airbag (the “Toyota Recall”). Toyota has informed the Company that there have been eight reported incidents where
a  side  curtain  airbag  has  partially  inflated  without  a  deployment  signal  from  the  airbag  control  unit.  The  incidents  have  all  occurred  in  parked,  unoccupied
vehicles and no personal injuries have been reported. The root cause analysis of the issue is ongoing. However, at this point in time the Company believes that
a compromised manufacturing  process at a sub-supplier may be  a contributing  factor and, as no incidents have been reported  in vehicles produced  by other
OEMs with the same inflator produced during the same period as those recalled by Toyota, that vehicle-specific characteristics may also contribute to the issue.
The sub-supplier’s manufacturing process was changed in January 2012, and the vehicles now recalled by Toyota represent more than half of all inflators of the
relevant type manufactured before the sub-supplier process was changed.

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company determined pursuant to ASC 450
that a loss with respect to this issue is reasonably possible. If the Company is obligated to indemnify Toyota for the costs associated with the Toyota Recall, the
Company expects that its insurance will generally cover such costs and liabilities and estimates that the Company’s loss, net of expected insurance recoveries,
would be less than $20 million. However, the ultimate costs of the Toyota Recall could be materially different. The main variables affecting the ultimate cost for
the Company are: the determination of proportionate responsibility (if any) among Toyota, the Company, and any relevant sub-suppliers; the ultimate number of
vehicles repaired; the cost of repair per vehicle; and the actual recoveries from sub-suppliers and insurers. The Company’s insurance policies generally include
coverage of the costs of a recall, although costs related to replacement parts are generally not covered.

In its products, the Company utilizes technologies which may be subject to intellectual property rights of third parties. While the Company does seek to procure
the necessary rights to utilize intellectual property rights associated with its products, it may fail to do so. Where the Company so fails, the Company may be
exposed to material claims from the owners of such rights. Where the Company has sold products which infringe upon such rights, its customers may be entitled
to be indemnified by the Company for the claims they suffer as a result thereof. Such claims could be material.

The table in Note 13 Product Related Liabilities above summarizes the change in the balance sheet position of the product related liabilities for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018.

19. Lease Commitments

OPERATING LEASES

The  Company  leases  certain  offices,  manufacturing  and  research  buildings,  machinery,  automobiles,  data  processing  and  other  equipment  under  operating
lease contracts. The operating leases, some of which are non-cancellable and include renewals, expire at various dates through 2045. The Company pays most
maintenance, insurance and tax expenses relating to leased assets. Rental expense for operating leases was $47 million, $46 million and $41 million for 2018,
2017 and 2016, respectively.

At December 31, 2018, future minimum lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases totaled $186 million and are payable as follows (in millions): 2019:
$42; 2020: $36; 2021: $29; 2022: $26; 2023: $20; 2024 and thereafter: $33.

CAPITAL LEASES

At December 31, 2018, future minimum lease payments for non-cancellable capital leases were not material.

20. Retirement Plans

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

Many of the Company’s employees are covered by government sponsored pension and welfare programs. Under the terms of these programs, the Company
makes  periodic  payments  to  various  government  agencies.  In  addition,  in  some  countries  the  Company  sponsors  or  participates  in  certain  non-governmental
defined contribution plans. Contributions to defined contribution plans for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were $19.2 million, $21.7 million
and $21.3 million, respectively.

MULTIEMPLOYER PLANS

The  Company  participates  in  a  multiemployer  plan  in  Sweden,  which  is  deemed  insignificant.  The  Swedish  ITP-2  pension  plan  is  funded  through  Alecta.  For
employees born before 1979, the plan provides a final pay pension benefit based on all service with participating employers. The Company must pay for wage
increases in excess of inflation on service earned with previous employers. The plan also provides disability and family benefits. The plan is more than 100%
funded. The Company contributions to the multiemployer plan in Sweden for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were $6.1 million, $9.7 million
and $4.4 million, respectively.

86

DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a number of defined benefit pension plans, both contributory and non-contributory, in the U.S., Germany, France, Japan, Mexico, Sweden,
South Korea, India, Turkey, Thailand, Philippines and the United Kingdom. There are funded as well as unfunded plan arrangements which provide retirement
benefits to both U.S. and non-U.S. participants.

The main plan is the U.S. plan for which the benefits are based on an average of the employee’s earnings in the years preceding retirement and on credited
service.  In  a  prior  year,  the  Company  closed  participation  in  the  Autoliv  ASP,  Inc.  Pension  Plan  to  exclude  those  employees  hired  after  December  31,  2003.
Within  the  U.S.  there  is  also  a  non-qualified  restoration  plan  that  provides  benefits  to  employees  whose  benefits  in  the  primary  U.S.  plan  are  restricted  by
limitations on the compensation that can be considered in calculating their benefits. During December 2017 the Company decided to amend the U.S. defined
benefit pension plan, communicating a benefits freeze that will begin on December 31, 2021. There were no curtailment expenses due to U.S. plan freeze. The
curtailment caused a decrease in the projected benefit obligation (PBO) of $62 million as of December 31, 2017, with the offset recorded to OCI.

For  the  Company’s  non-U.S.  defined  benefit  plans  the  most  significant  individual  plan  resides  in  the  U.K.  The  Company  has  closed  participation  in  the  U.K.
defined benefit plan to exclude all employees hired after April 30, 2003 with few members accruing benefits.

CHANGES IN BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS AND PLAN ASSETS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31

Benefit obligation at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial (gain) loss due to:
Change in discount rate
Experience
Other assumption changes

Plan amendments
Benefits paid
Plan settlements
Curtailments
Special termination benefits
Translation difference
Benefit obligation at end of year

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Company contributions
Benefits paid
Plan settlements
Translation difference
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status recognized in the balance sheet

U.S.

Non-U.S.

2018

2017

2018

2017

368.6    $
8.7     
12.8     

(44.6)    
0.8     
3.5     
—     
(17.7)    
—     
—     
—     
—     
332.1    $

297.9    $
(13.9)    
6.7     
(17.7)    
—     
—     
273.0    $
(59.1)   $

 $

361.2 
9.0 
14.8 

53.4 
(2.0)   
4.2 
— 
(9.8)   
— 
(62.2)   
— 
— 
368.6 

 $

 $

256.5 
44.5 
6.7 
(9.8)   
— 
— 
297.9 
 $
(70.7)  $

220.9    $
10.8     
5.7     

(12.1)    
4.7     
4.8     
(0.1)    
(7.9)    
(0.8)    
—     
0.5     
(9.6)    
216.9    $

84.8    $
(1.9)    
9.0     
(7.9)    
(0.8)    
(5.4)    
77.8    $
(139.1)   $

190.6 
10.4 
5.5 

5.9 
(4.3)
1.4 
(0.5)
(7.9)
(0.1)
— 
0.3 
19.6 
220.9 

76.5 
2.3 
6.3 
(7.9)
(0.1)
7.7 
84.8 
(136.1)

  $

  $

  $

  $
  $

The U.S. plan provides that benefits may be paid in the form of a lump sum if so elected by the participant. In order to more accurately reflect a market-derived
pension obligation, Autoliv adjusts the assumed lump sum interest rate to reflect market conditions as of each December 31. This methodology is consistent with
the approach required under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which provides the rules for determining minimum funding requirements in the U.S.

COMPONENTS  OF  NET  PERIODIC  BENEFIT  COST  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE  DEFINED  BENEFIT  RETIREMENT
PLANS

Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service credit
Amortization of actuarial loss
Curtailment loss
Net periodic benefit cost

U.S.
2017

2016

8.7    $
12.8     
(20.4)    
0.1     
2.2     
—     
3.4    $

9.0    $
14.8     
(17.6)    
0.0     
6.0     
0.2     
12.4    $

8.3 
14.6 
(16.6)
(0.9)
4.8 
— 
10.2

2018

  $

  $

87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
  
   
  
   
      
  
  
      
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
      
  
  
      
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service costs
Amortization of actuarial loss
Settlement loss (gain)
Special termination benefits
Net periodic benefit cost

2018

  $

  $

Non-U.S.
2017

2016

10.8    $
5.7     
(2.0)    
0.3     
1.4     
0.2     
0.5     
16.9    $

10.4    $
5.5     
(1.9)    
0.2     
1.9     
0.1     
0.3     
16.5    $

10.8 
5.8 
(2.2)
0.2 
1.4 
(2.4)
0.1 
13.7

The service cost and amortization of prior service cost components from continuing operations are reported among other employee compensation costs in the
Consolidated Statements of Income. The remaining components, interest cost, expected returns on plan assets and amortization of actuarial loss, are reported
as Other non-operating items, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The estimated prior service credit for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from other compreh ensive income into net benefit cost over
the next fiscal year is immaterial. Amortization of net actuarial losses is expected to be $1.6 million in 2019. Net periodic benefit cost associated with these U.S.
plans was $3.4 million in 2018 and is expected to be approximately $9.6 million in 2019. The estimated prior service cost and net actuarial loss for the non-U.S.
defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from other comprehensive income into net benefit cost over the next fiscal year are $0.3 million and $0.9
million, respectively. Net periodic benefit cost associated with these non-U.S. plans was $16.9 million in 2018 and is expected to be around $16.9 million in 2019.
The amortization of the net actuarial loss is made over the estimated remaining service lives of the plan participants, 10 years for U.S. and 7-33 years for non-
U.S. participants, varying between the different countries depending on the age of the work force.

COMPONENTS OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BEFORE TAX RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS OF DECEMBER
31

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
   recognized in the balance sheet

U.S.

Non-U.S.

2018

2017

2018

2017

48.0    $
0.1     

56.2    $
0.1     

30.8    $
3.1     

48.1    $

56.3    $

33.9    $

32.6 
2.9 

35.5

  $

  $

CHANGES  IN  ACCUMULATED  OTHER  COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME  BEFORE  TAX  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS  FOR  THE  PERIODS  ENDED
DECEMBER 31

Total retirement benefit recognized in accumulated
   other comprehensive income at beginning of year
Net actuarial (gain) loss
Amortization of prior service credit (cost)
Amortization of actuarial loss
Translation difference
Total retirement benefit recognized in accumulated
   other comprehensive income at end of year

U.S.

Non-U.S.

2018

2017

2018

2017

  $

56.3    $
(6.0)    
0.0     
(2.2)    
—     

95.9    $
(33.4)    
(0.2)    
(6.0)    
—     

35.5    $
1.6     
(0.3)    
(1.5)    
(1.4)    

  $

48.1    $

56.3    $

33.9    $

32.2 
2.4 
(0.2)
(2.0)
3.1 

35.5

The accumulated benefit obligation for the U.S. non-contributory defined benefit pension plans was $314.8 million and $336.9 million at December 31, 2018 and
2017, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation for the non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans was $167.8 million and $173.5 million at December 31,
2018 and 2017, respectively.

Pension  plans  for  which  the  accumulated  benefit  obligation  (ABO)  is  notably  in  excess  of  the  plan  assets  reside  in  the  following  countries:  U.S.,  France,
Germany, Japan, South Korea and Sweden.

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
PENSION PLANS FOR WHICH ABO EXCEEDS THE FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS OF DECEMBER 31

Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO)
Fair value of plan assets

U.S.

Non-U.S.

2018

2017

2018

2017

 $

332.1    $
314.8     
272.9     

368.6    $
336.9     
297.9     

143.3    $
110.8     
3.9     

143.6 
112.5 
4.1

The  Company,  in  consultation  with  its  actuarial  advisors,  determines  certain  key  assumptions  to  be  used  in  calculating  the  projected  benefit  obligation  and
annual net periodic benefit cost.

ASSUMPTIONS USED TO DETERMINE THE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS AS OF DECEMBER 31

% WEIGHTED AVERAGE
Discount rate
Rate of increases in compensation level

U.S.

2018

2017

4.35     
2.65     

3.55   
2.65   

Non-U.S. 1)

2018
0.50-3.25 
2.00-5.00 

2017
0.25-3.25
2.00-5.00

ASSUMPTIONS USED TO DETERMINE THE NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST FOR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31

% WEIGHTED AVERAGE
Discount rate
Rate of increases in compensation level
Expected long-term rate of return on assets

% WEIGHTED AVERAGE
Discount rate
Rate of increases in compensation level
Expected long-term rate of return on assets

2018

3.55     
2.65     
7.08     

U.S.
2017

4.15     
2.65     
7.08     

2016

4.50 
2.65 
7.08

2018
0.25-3.25 
2.00-5.00 
2.25-2.50 

Non-U.S. 1)
2017
0.50-3.25 
2.00-5.00 
1.50-2.50 

2016
0.50-3.60
2.25-5.00
1.50-3.60

1) The  Non-U.S.  weighted  average  plan  ranges  in  the  tables  above  have  been  prepared  using  significant  plans  only,  which  in  total  represent  around  86%  of
the total Non-U.S. projected benefit obligation.

The discount rate for the U.S. plans has been set based on the rates of return on high-quality fixed-income investments currently available at the measurement
date  and  expected  to  be  available  during  the  period  the  benefits  will  be  paid.  The  expected  timing  of  cash  flows  from  the  plan  has  also  been  considered  in
selecting the discount rate. In particular, the yields on bonds rated AA or better on the measurement date have been used to set the discount rate. The discount
rate for the U.K. plan has been set based on the weighted average yields on long-term high-grade corporate bonds and is determined by reference to financial
markets on the measurement date.

The expected rate of increase in compensation levels and long-term rate of return on plan assets are determined based on a number of factors and must take
into account  long-term  expectations  and reflect the financial environment  in the respective local market. The  expected  return on assets for the  U.S. and U.K.
plans are based on the fair value of the assets as of December 31.

The  level  of  equity  exposure  is  currently  targeted  at  approximately  40%  for  the  primary  U.S.  plan.  The  investment  objective  is  to  provide  an  attractive  risk-
adjusted return that will ensure the payment of benefits while protecting against the risk of substantial investment losses. Correlations among the asset classes
are used to identify an asset mix that Autoliv believes will provide the most attractive returns. Long-term return forecasts for each asset class using historical data
and other qualitative considerations to adjust for projected economic forecasts are used to set the expected rate of return for the entire portfolio. The Company
has assumed a long-term rate of return on the U.S. plan assets of 7.08% for calculating the 2018 expense and 5.05% for calculating the 2019 expense.

The Company has assumed a long-term rate of return on the non-U.S. plan assets in a range of 2.25-2.50% for 2018. The closed U.K. plan which has a targeted
and actual allocation of almost 100% debt instruments accounts for approximately 79% of the total non-U.S. plan assets.

89

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autoliv made contributions to the U.S. plan during 2018 and 2017 amounting to $ 6.7 million and $6. 7 million, respectively. Contributions to the U.K. plan during
2018 and 2017 amounted to $ 1.3 million and $1. 2 million, respectively. The Compan y expects to contribute $ 7 million to its U.S. pension plan in 2019 and is
currently projecting a yearly funding at approximately the same level in the years thereafter. For the UK plan, which is the most significant non-U.S. pension plan,
the Company expe cts to contribute $ 1.2 million in 2019 and in the years thereafter .

FAIR VALUE OF TOTAL PLAN ASSETS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS FOR YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31

ASSETS CATEGORY IN % WEIGHTED AVERAGE
Equity securities
Debt instruments
Other assets
Total

U.S.
Target

U.S.

Non-U.S.

allocation    

2018

2017

2018

2017

40     
60     
—     
100     

38     
62     
0     
100     

56     
43     
1     
100     

0     
79     
21     
100     

0 
79 
21 
100

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plan assets:

Assets
Non-U.S. Bonds
Corporate
Insurance Contracts

Other Investments
Assets at fair value Level 2
Investments measured at net asset value (NAV):

Common collective trusts

Total

  $

Fair value
measurement at
December 31,
2018

Fair value
measurement at
December 31,
2017

61.4     
12.6     
4.5     
78.5     

272.3     
350.8    $

66.9 
13.8 
7.4 
88.1 

294.6 
382.7

The fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Certain
assets that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. Plan
assets not measured using the NAV are classified as Level 2 in the table above. Plan assets measured using the NAV mainly relate to the U.S. defined benefit
pension plans and are separately disclosed as Common collective trusts below the level 2 assets in the table above.

The estimated future benefit payments for the pension benefits reflect expected future service, as appropriate. The amount of benefit payments in a given year
may vary from the projected amount, especially for the U.S. plan since historically this plan pays the majority of benefits as a lump sum, where the lump sum
amounts vary with market interest rates.

PENSION BENEFITS EXPECTED PAYMENTS
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Years 2024-2028

U.S.

Non-U.S.

  $
  $
  $
  $
  $
  $

13    $
14    $
17    $
19    $
20    $
123    $

8 
8 
9 
9 
10 
63

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS

The Company currently provides postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to most of its U.S. retirees.

90

 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
      
  
   
      
  
   
   
   
   
   
      
  
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
In general, the terms of the plans provide that U.S. employees who retire after attaining age 55, with 15 years of service (5 years before December 31, 2006),
are reimbursed for qualified medical expenses up to a maximum annual amount. Spouses for certain retirees are also eligible for reimbursement under the plan.
Life insurance coverage is available for tho se who elect coverage under the retiree health plan. During 2014, the plan was amended to move from a self-insured
model  where  employees  were  charged  an  estimated  premium  based  on  anticipated  plan  expenses  for  continued  coverage,  to  a  plan  where  retirees  a  re
provided  a  fixed  contribution  to  a  Health  Retirement  Account  (HRA).  Retirees  can  use  the  HRA  funds  to  purchase  insurance  through  a  private  exchange.
Employees hired on or after January 1, 2004 are not eligible to participate in the plan.

The  Company  has  reviewed  the  impact  of  the  Medicare  Prescription  Drug,  Improvement  and  Modernization  Act  of  2003  (Medicare  Part  D)  on  its  financial
statements. Although the Plan may currently qualify for a subsidy from Medicare, the amount of the subsidy is so small that the expenses incurred to file for the
subsidy may exceed the subsidy itself. Therefore, the impact of any subsidy is ignored in the calculations as Autoliv will not be filing for any reimbursement from
Medicare.

CHANGES IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION FOR POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS OTHER THAN PENSIONS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS
AS OF DECEMBER 31

Benefit obligation at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial (gains) losses
Benefits paid
Other
Benefit obligation at end of year

2018

2017

  $

  $

17.8    $
0.3     
0.6     
(1.2)   
(0.3)   
(1.7)   
15.5    $

15.8 
0.3 
0.6 
0.7 
(0.2)
0.6 
17.8

The liability for postretirement benefits other than pensions is classified as other non-current liabilities in the balance sheet.

COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POST RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
OTHER THAN PENSIONS

PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31
Service cost
Interest cost
Amortization of prior service cost
Amortization of actuarial loss
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

0.3    $
0.6     
(2.2)    
(0.3)    
(1.6)   $

0.3    $
0.6     
(2.2)    
(0.5)    
(1.8)   $

0.3 
0.7 
(2.2)
— 
(1.2)

COMPONENTS  OF  ACCUMULATED  OTHER  COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME  BEFORE  TAX  ASSOCIATED  WITH  POSTRETIREMENT  BENEFIT  PLANS
OTHER THAN PENSIONS RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS OF DECEMBER 31

Net actuarial loss (gain)
Prior service cost (credit)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income
   recognized in the balance sheet

U.S.

2018

2017

  $

  $

(4.6)  $
(8.2)   

(12.8)  $

(3.7)
(10.6)

(14.3)

For measuring end-of-year obligations at December 31, 2016, health care trends are not needed due to the fixed-cost nature of the benefits provided in 2014
and beyond. After 2014, all retirees receive a fixed dollar subsidy toward the cost of their health benefits. This individual retiree subsidy will not increase in future
years.

91

 
 
 
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
The  we  ighted  average  discount  rate  used  to  determine  the  U.S.  postretirement  benefit  obligation  was  4.45 %  in  2018 and 3.75 %  in  2017 .  The  average
discount rate used in determining the postretirement benefit cost was 3.75 % in 2018 , 4. 40 % in 2017 and 4. 65 % in 2016 .

A one percentage point increase or decrease in the annual health care cost trend rates would have had no impact on the Company’s net benefit cost for the
current period or on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2017. This is due to the fixed-dollar nature of the benefits provided under
the postretirement benefit plan.

The estimated net gain and prior service credit for the postretirement benefit plans that will be amortized from other comprehensive income into net benefit cost
over the next fiscal year are approximately $(2.5) million combined.

The estimated future benefit payments for the postretirement benefits reflect expected future service as appropriate.

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Years 2024–2028

21. Related Party Transactions

EXPECTED
PAYMENTS

0.4 
0.4 
0.5 
0.5 
0.6 
3.5

$
$
$
$
$
$

Throughout the periods covered by consolidated financial statements, Autoliv purchased finished goods from Veoneer. Related party purchases from Veoneer
amounted to approximately $78 million and $76 million for the full year 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Amounts due to and due from related parties as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are summarized in the below table:

Related party
(Dollars in millions)
Related party receivables
Related party payables
Related party accrued expenses

As of

December 31,
2018

December 31,
2017

  $

15.0    $
50.7     
13.0     

— 

—

Related party receivables primarily relate to an agreement between Autoliv and Veoneer.

The related party payables are mainly driven by Reseller Agreements put in place in connection with the spin-off. The Reseller Agreements are between Autoliv
and  Veoneer  to  facilitate  the  temporary  arrangement  of  the  sale  of  Veoneer  products  in  the  interim  period  post  spin-off.  For  further  information,  see  Note  3.
Discontinued Operations above.

92

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
  
   
 
 
2 2 . Segment Information

The Company has one operating segment, Passive Safety, which includes Autoliv’s airbag and seatbelt products and components. The operating results of the
operating segment are regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker to assess the performance of the individual operating segment and
make decisions about resources to be allocated to the operating segment.

The Company’s customers consist of all major European, U.S. and Asian automobile manufacturers. Sales to individual customers representing 10% or more of
net sales were:

In 2018: Renault 15% (including Nissan and Mitsubishi) and VW 10%.

In 2017: Renault 15% (including Nissan and Mitsubishi) and Ford 10%.

In 2016: Renault 12% (including Nissan), Ford 10% and Hyundai 10%.

NET SALES BY REGION
Asia
Whereof: China

Japan
Rest of Asia

Americas
Europe
Total

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

3,194.9    $
1,522.2     
827.9     
844.8     
2,735.1     
2,748.2     
8,678.2    $

2,998.1    $
1,421.2     
787.0     
789.9     
2,435.2     
2,703.5     
8,136.8    $

2,830.2 
1,385.4 
718.6 
726.2 
2,548.0 
2,543.4 
7,921.6

The Company has attributed net sales to the geographic area based on the location of the entity selling the final product.

External sales in the U.S. amounted to $1,943 million, $1,689 million and $1,862 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Of the external sales, exports from
the U.S. to other regions amounted to approximately $384 million, $362 million and $423 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

NET SALES BY PRODUCT
Airbag Products 1)
Seatbelt Products 1)
Total net sales

1)

Including Corporate and other sales.

LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Asia
Whereof: China

Japan
Rest of Asia

Americas
Europe
Total

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

5,698.6    $
2,979.6     
8,678.2    $

5,343.2    $
2,793.6     
8,136.8    $

5,256.4 
2,665.2 
7,921.6

2018

2017

  $
  $
  $
  $
  $
  $
  $

881    $
500    $
135    $
246    $
1,708    $
847    $
3,436    $

975 
548 
196 
231 
1,572 
843 
3,390

Long-lived assets in the U.S. amounted to $1,527 million and $1,601 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively. For 2018, $1,250 million (2017, $1,263 million) of
the long-lived assets in the U.S. refers to intangible assets, principally from acquisition goodwill.

93

 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
2 3 . Earnings Per S h a r e

The computation of basic and diluted EPS under the two-class method were as follows (dollars and shares in millions):

Numerator:

Basic and diluted:

Net income from continuing operations
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations
Net income attributable to controlling interest
Participating share awards with dividend equivalent rights
Net income available to common shareholders
Earnings allocated to participating share awards 1)
Net income attributable to common shareholders

Denominator: 1)

Basic: Weighted average common stock
Add: Weighted average stock options/share awards
Diluted:

Basic EPS:

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Basic EPS

Diluted EPS:

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Diluted EPS

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

375.9    $
(185.5)   
190.4     
0.0 
190.4 
0.0 
190.4 

 $

87.1     
0.2     
87.3     

4.32    $
(2.13)    
2.19    $

4.31    $
(2.13)    
2.18    $

586.0    $
(158.9)   
427.1     
0.0 
427.1 
0.0 
427.1 

 $

87.5     
0.2     
87.7     

6.70    $
(1.82)    
4.88    $

6.68    $
(1.81)    
4.87    $

558.4 
8.7 
567.1 
— 
567.1 
— 
567.1 

88.2 
0.2 
88.4 

6.33 
0.10 
6.43 

6.32 
0.10 
6.42

1)

The  Company’s  unvested  RSUs  and  PSs,  of  which  some  included  the  right  to  receive  non-forfeitable  dividend  equivalents,  are  considered  participating  securities.
Calculations  of  EPS  under  the  two-class  method  exclude  from  the  numerator  any  dividends  paid  or  owed  on  participating  securities  and  any  undistributed  earnings
considered to be attributable to participating securities. The related participating securities are similarly excluded from the denominator.

There  were  no  antidilutive  shares  outstanding  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  approximately  0.1  million  antidilutive  shares  outstanding  for  the  year
ended December 31, 2017 and 0.2 million antidilutive shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2016.

24. Subsequent Events

There were no reportable events subsequent to December 31, 2018.

94

 
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
      
      
  
   
   
   
 
   
      
      
  
     
       
       
 
   
 
     
       
       
 
     
       
       
 
   
 
 
 
2 5 . Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

2018
Net sales
Gross profit
Income from Continuing Operations before income taxes
Income from Continuing Operations
Net income attributable to controlling interest from Continuing Operations
Earnings per share Continuing Operations
– basic
– diluted
Dividends paid

2017
Net sales
Gross profit
Income from Continuing Operations before income taxes
Income from Continuing Operations
Net income attributable to controlling interest from Continuing Operations
Earnings per share Continuing Operations
– basic
– diluted
Dividends paid

$

$

Q1
2,240.9    $
460.3   
228.9   
159.1   
158.7   

Q2
2,211.5    $
439.7   
210.1   
193.2   
192.7   

Q3
2,033.0    $
386.1   
171.3   
118.0   
117.5   

1.82   
1.82   
0.60   

2.21   
2.20   
0.62   

1.35   
1.34   
0.62   

Q1
2,041.6    $
428.7   
199.7   
148.3   
147.9   

Q2
1,983.9    $
415.3   
201.2   
136.1   
135.7   

Q3
1,952.6    $
394.9   
150.7   
106.2   
105.7   

1.67   
1.67   
0.58   

1.54   
1.54   
0.60   

1.22   
1.21   
0.60   

Q4
2,192.8 
425.2 
2.1 
(92.8)
(93.0)

(1.07)
(1.06)
0.62

Q4
2,158.7 
440.8 
240.8 
197.4 
196.7 

2.26 
2.26 
0.60

Quarterly movements

In the fourth quarter of 2018, income from Continuing Operations before taxes was negatively impacted by the Company recognizing an accrual of $210 million
in connection with the remaining portion of the European Commission’s investigation of anti-competitive behavior among suppliers of occupant safety systems in
the European Union.

EXCHANGE RATES FOR KEY CURRENCIES VS. U.S.

2018

2018

2017

2017

2016

2016

2015

2015

2014

2014

EUR
CNY
JPY/1000
KRW/1000
MXN
SEK
BRL

  Average     Year end     Average     Year end     Average     Year end     Average     Year end     Average     Year end  
1.218 
1.106     
0.161 
0.150     
8.367 
9.222     
0.913 
0.863     
0.068 
0.053     
0.128 
0.117     
0.370
0.289     

1.145     
0.146     
9.051     
0.896     
0.051     
0.111     
0.258     

1.129     
0.148     
8.916     
0.885     
0.053     
0.117     
0.313     

1.182     
0.151     
9.061     
0.909     
0.052     
0.115     
0.276     

1.110     
0.159     
8.261     
0.885     
0.063     
0.119     
0.306     

1.094     
0.154     
8.303     
0.854     
0.058     
0.120     
0.259     

1.327     
0.162     
9.452     
0.950     
0.075     
0.146     
0.426     

1.052     
0.144     
8.544     
0.832     
0.048     
0.110     
0.307     

1.196     
0.154     
8.878     
0.937     
0.051     
0.121     
0.302     

95

 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accou ntants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There have been no changes to and no disagreements with our independent auditors regarding accounting or financial disclosure matters in our two most recent
fiscal years.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation has been carried out by the Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-
15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on
such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures are effective.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

(a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.

Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision
of,  the  Company’s  principal  executive  and  principal  financial  officers  and  effected  by  the  Company’s  board  of  directors,  management  and  other  personnel  to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

•

•

•

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
Company;

provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with
generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with
authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized  acquisition,  use  or  disposition  of  the  Company’s  assets
that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Projections  of  any  evaluation  of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of Autoliv’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In making this assessment, we used the
criteria  set  forth  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (COSO)  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  (2013
framework).

Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2018, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

(b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

Ernst  &  Young  AB  has  issued  an  attestation  report  on  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  which  is  included  herein  as  the  Report  of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 (f) and 15d-15(f) under the
Exchange Act) during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

96

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 10. Directors, Executive Of fic ers and Corporate Governance

The information required by Item 10. regarding executive officers, directors and nominees for election as directors of Autoliv, Autoliv’s Audit Committee, Autoliv’s
code of ethics, and compliance with Section 16(A) of the Securities Exchange Act is incorporated herein by reference from the information under the captions
“Executive  Officers  of  the  Company”  and  “Item  1:  Election  of  Directors”,  “Committees  of  the  Board”  and  “Audit  Committee  Report”,  “Corporate  Governance
Guidelines  and  Codes  of  Conduct  and  Ethics”,  and  “Section  16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting  Compliance”,  respectively,  in  the  Company’s  2019  Proxy
Statement. Information on Board meeting attendance is provided under the caption “Board Meetings” in the 2019 Proxy Statement and incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by Item 11. regarding executive compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 is included under the captions “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” in the 2019 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by the
same  item  regarding  Leadership  Development  and  Compensation  Committee  is  included  in  the  sections  “Compensation  Committee  Interlocks  and  Insider
Participation” and “Leadership Development and Compensation Committee Report” in the 2019 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The  information  required  by  Item  12.  regarding  beneficial  ownership  of  Autoliv’s  common  stock  is  included  under  the  caption  “Security  Ownership  of  Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management” in the 2019 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Shares Previously Authorized for Issuance Under the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2018, about the common stock that may be issued under the Autoliv, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan. The
Company does not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by its stockholders.

Plan Category
Equity compensation plans approved
   by security holders (1)
Equity compensation plans not
   approved by security holders
Total

(a) Number of
Securities to
be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights    

(b) Weighted-
average exercise
price of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights(2)

(c) Number of
securities remaining
available for future
issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column
(a))(3)

404,148    $

63.43     

3,190,663 

—     
404,148    $

—     
63.43     

— 
3,190,663

(1)

(2)
(3)

Autoliv,  Inc.  Stock  Incentive  Plan,  as  amended  and  restated  on  May  6,  2009,  as  amended  by  Amendment  No.  1  dated  December  17,  2010  and  Amendment  No.  2
dated May 8, 2012.
Excludes restricted stock units and performance shares which convert to shares of common stock for no consideration.
All such shares are available for issuance pursuant to grants of full-value stock awards.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information regarding the Company’s policy and procedures concerning related party transactions is included under the caption “Related Person Transactions” in
the  2019  Proxy  Statement  and  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference.  Information  regarding  director  independence  can  be  found  under  the  caption  “Board
Independence” in the 2019 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A regarding principal accounting fees and the information required by Item 14 regarding the pre-approval
process  of  accounting  services  provided  to  Autoliv  is  included  under  the  caption  “Ratification  of  Appointment  of  Independent  Auditors”  in  the  2019  Proxy
Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

97

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
Item 15. Exhibits and Fina ncial Statement Schedules

(a)

(1)

Documents Filed as Part of this Report

Financial Statements

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

Consolidated Statements of Net Income – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016;

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016;

Consolidated Balance Sheets – as of December 31, 2018 and 2017;

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016;

Consolidated Statements of Total Equity – as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016;

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements; and

(vii)

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules

All of the schedules specified under Regulation S-X to be provided by Autoliv have been omitted either because they are not applicable, they are not required, or
the information required is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

(3)

Exhibits

Exhibit
No.

  2.1

  Stock  Purchase  Agreement,  dated  as  of  July  16,  2015,  by  and  among  Autoliv  ASP  Inc.,  M/A-COM  Technology  Solutions  Inc.,  M/A-COM  Auto
Solutions  Inc.  and,  for  the  limited  purposes  specified  therein,  M/A-COM  Technology  Solutions  Holdings,  Inc.,  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to
Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 17, 2015).

Description

  2.2

  Distribution Agreement, dated June 28, 2018, between Veoneer, Inc. and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current

Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2018).

  3.1

  Autoliv’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

(File No. 001-12933, filing date April 22, 2015).

  3.2

  Autoliv’s Third Restated By-Laws, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date

December 18, 2015).

  4.1

  Indenture, dated March 30, 2009, between Autoliv, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

4.1 to Autoliv’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-12933, filing date March 30, 2009).

  4.2

  Second Supplemental Indenture (including Form of Global Note), dated March 15, 2012, between Autoliv, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association,

as trustee, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date March 15, 2012).

  4.3

  Form of Note Purchase and Guaranty Agreement dated April 23, 2014, among Autoliv ASP, Inc., Autoliv, Inc. and the purchasers named therein,

incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 25, 2014).

  4.4

  4.5

  Amendment  and  Waiver  2014  Note  Purchase  and  Guaranty  Agreement,  dated  May  24,  2018  among  Autoliv,  Inc.,  Autoliv  ASP,  Inc.  and  the
noteholders named therein, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933,  filing date
July 27, 2018).

  General Terms and Conditions for Swedish Depository Receipts in Autoliv, Inc., representing common shares in Autoliv, Inc., effective as of May 30,
2018 with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) serving as a custodian, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

  4.6

  Agency Agreement dated June 26, 2018 among Autoliv, Inc., Autoliv ASP Inc. and HSBC Bank PLC, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6

to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.1+

  Form of Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the

Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2002).

10.2+

  Form of Supplementary Agreement to the Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers, incorporated herein by

reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2002).

10.3+

  Form  of  Severance  Agreement  between  Autoliv,  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  executive  officers,  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.7  to  the

Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2002).

10.4+

  Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers – notice, incorporated herein by reference

to Exhibit 10.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date March 14, 2003).

98

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
No.

Description

10.5+

  Form of Supplementary Agreement to Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers – pension, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date March 14, 2003).

10.6+

  Form of Pension Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers – additional pension, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date March 14, 2003).

10.7+

  Employment Agreement, dated March 31, 2007, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mr. Jan Carlson, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 25, 2007).

10.8+

  Retirement Benefits Agreement, dated August 14, 2007, between Autoliv AB and Mr. Jan Carlson, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14

to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 25, 2007).

10.9+

  Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on May 6, 2009, incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A of the Definitive

Proxy Statement of Autoliv, Inc. on Schedule 14A (filing date March 23, 2009).

10.10

  Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, dated June 21, 2010, between Autoliv AB, Autoliv, Inc., and Nordea Bank AB (publ), incorporated herein by

reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 23, 2010).

10.11

  Facility Agreement, dated June 21, 2010, among Autoliv, Inc., Autoliv AB, Swedish Export Credit Corporation, National Export Credits Guarantee

Board and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File
No. 001-12933, filing date July 23, 2010).

10.12+

  Amendment No. 1 to the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan as amended and restated on May 6, 2009, dated December 17, 2010, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2011).

10.13+

  Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers – pension, incorporated herein by

reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2012).

10.14+

  Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers – non-equity incentive award, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2012).

10.15+

  Amendment, dated December 19, 2011, to Employment Agreement, dated March 31, 2007, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mr. Jan Carlson (pension),

incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2012).

10.16

  Remarketing Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2012, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.

001-12933, filing date March 15, 2012).

10.17+

  Amendment No. 2 to the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on May 6, 2009, dated May 8, 2012, incorporated herein

by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 20, 2012).

10.18+

  Amendment, dated January 18, 2013 to Employment Agreement, dated March 31, 2007, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mr. Jan Carlson – additional

pension, dated January 18, 2013, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing
date February 22, 2013).

10.19+

  Form of Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers (with Change-in-Control Severance Agreement),
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 22, 2013).

10.20+

  Form of Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers (without Change-in-Control Severance Agreement),

incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 22, 2013).

10.21+

  Form of Change-in-Control Severance Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.36 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 22, 2013).

10.22

  Form of Indemnification Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and its directors and certain of its executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 99.i to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 24, 2009).

10.23†

  Finance Contract, dated July 16, 2013, among European Investment Bank, Autoliv AB (publ) and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 24, 2013).

10.24

  Guarantee Agreement, dated July 16, 2013, between European Investment Bank and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12

to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 24, 2013).

99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
No.

Description

10.25

  Form of Note Purchase and Guaranty Agreement, dated April 23, 2014, among Autoliv ASP, Inc., Autoliv, Inc. and the purchasers named therein,

incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 25, 2014).

10.26+

  Form of Supplement to Employment Agreement between Autoliv, Inc. and certain of its executive officers, dated August 13, 2014 and effective as of
September 1, 2014, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October
23, 2014).

10.27

  Amendment, dated January 27, 2015, to the Finance Contract, dated July 16, 2013, among European Investment Bank, Autoliv AB (publ) and

Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Annual Report on Form 10- K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 19,
2015).

10.28

  Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2015, by and between Autoliv ASP Inc. and M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc., incorporated herein by

reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 17, 2015).

10.29+

  International Assignment Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2015, by and among Autoliv ASP, Inc., Autoliv AB and Steven Fredin, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date August 28, 2015).

10.30+

  Employment Agreement, dated August 20, 2015, between Autoliv, Inc. and Lars Sjöbring, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the

Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 19, 2016).

10.31+

  Separation Agreement, dated November 20, 2015, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mats Wallin, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the

Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 19, 2016).

10.32

  General Terms and Conditions for Swedish Depository Receipts in Autoliv, Inc. representing common shares in Autoliv, Inc., effective as of May 30 ,
2018, with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) serving as custodian, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.33+

  Form of performance shares award agreement to be used under the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 29, 2016).

10.34+

  Form of restricted stock units award agreement to be used under the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 29, 2016).

10.35+

  Employment Agreement, dated November 20, 2015, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mats Backman, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to

the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 22, 2016).

10.36+

  Employment Agreement, dated December 15, 2015, between Autoliv, Inc. and Mikael Bratt, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 22, 2016).

10.37

  Facilities Agreement of $1,100,000,000, dated July 14, 2016, among Autoliv, Inc., Autoliv ASP, Inc., Autoliv AB, HSBC Bank PLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

and Investment Banking, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), and the other parties and lenders named therein, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 27, 2016).

10.38+

  Mutual Separation Agreement, dated May 31, 2016 and effective as of May 18, 2016, between Autoliv, Inc. and Jonas Nilsson, incorporated herein

by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 27, 2016).

10.39+

  Mutual Separation Agreement, dated September 30, 2016 and effective as of October 1, 2016, between Autoliv, Inc. and Frank Melzer, incorporated

herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date October 27, 2016).

10.40+

  Supplement to Employment Agreement, dated October 3, 2016, between Autoliv, Inc. and Johan Löfvenholm, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.47 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2017).

10.41+

  Supplement to Employment Agreement, dated October 3, 2016, between Autoliv, Inc. and Steve Fredin, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.48 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date February 23, 2017).

10.42+

  Autoliv,  Inc.  Non-employee  Director  Compensation  Policy,  effective  January  1,  2017,  incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  to  the

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 28, 2017).

10.43+

  Amendment No. 3 to the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, dated April 24, 2017, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 28, 2017).

10.44+

  Form of Non-Employee Director restricted stock unit award agreement to be used under the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and

restated, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 28, 2017).

100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
No.

Description

10.45+

  Form  of  Employee  restricted  stock  unit  award  agreement  (2017)  to  be  used  under  the  Autoliv,  Inc.  1997  Stock  Incentive  Plan,  as  amended  and

restated, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 28, 2017).

10.46+

  Form of performance share award agreement (2017) to be used under the Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated,

incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date April 28, 2017).

10.47+*

  Mutual Separation Agreement, dated March 23, 2018 and effective as of December 31, 2018, between Autoliv, Inc. and Karin Eliasson.

10.48

  Employee Matters Agreement, dated June 28, 2018, between Veoneer, Inc. and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the

Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2018).

10.49

  Tax Matters Agreement, dated June 28, 2018, between Veoneer, Inc. and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the

Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2018).

10.50

  Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement, dated June 28, 2018, between Veoneer, Inc. and Autoliv, Inc., incorporated herein by

reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 2, 2018).

10.51

  Facilities Agreement, dated May 24, 2018, among Autoliv, Inc., Autoliv ASP, J.P. Morgan Securities PLC and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB

(publ), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.52

  Separation Agreement, effective as of September 1, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Steve Fredin, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.53

  Interim Employment Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2018, by and between Veoneer, Inc. and Jan Carlson, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.54

  Supplement to Employment Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Jan Carlson, incorporated herein by reference

to Exhibit 10.7 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.55

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Mikael Bratt, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.8 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.56

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Jennifer Cheng, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.9 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.57

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Daniel Garceau, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.10 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.58

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Michael A. Hague, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.11 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.59

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Jordi Lombarte incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.12 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.60

  E mployment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Bradley J. Murray, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.13 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.61

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Anthony J.  Nellis, incorporated herein by reference to

Exhibit 10.14 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

10.62

  Employment Agreement, effective as of June 29, 2018, by and between Autoliv, Inc. and Sherry Vasa, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit

10.15 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12933, filing date July 27, 2018).

21*

23*

31.1*

31.2*

  Autoliv’s List of Subsidiaries.

  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

  Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

  Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
No.

32.1*

32.2*

101*

*

+

†

Description

  Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  The following financial information from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, formatted in XBRL

(Extensible Business Reporting Language) and filed electronically herewith: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Net Income; (ii) the Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (v) the Consolidated
Statements of Total Equity; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Filed herewith.

Management contract or compensatory plan.

Confidential  treatment  requested  as  to  portions  of  the  exhibit.  Confidential  materials  omitted  and  filed  separately  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNAT URES

Pur s uant to the requirements of Sec t ion 13 or 15(d) of the Secur i ties Exchange Act of 1934, the regis t rant has duly caused t h is rep o rt to be signed on i ts
beha l f by the undersigned, th ereunto duly author i zed, as of February 21, 2019.

AUTOLIV, INC.
(Registrant)

/s/ M ats Back m an

By
Mats Backman
Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to t h e requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, t h is report has been s i gned below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capac i ties indicated, as of February 21, 2019.

Title

Na m e

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Jan Carlson
Jan Carlson

/s/ Mikael Bratt
Mikael Bratt

C h ief Financial Officer
(Princ i p al Financ i al and Pr i n cipal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Ma t s Backman
Mats Backman

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

/s/ Hasse Johansson
Hasse Johansson

/s/ Leif Johansson
Leif Johansson

/s/ David E. Kepl e r
David E. Kepl e r

/s/ Franz-Josef Kor t üm
Fran z - Josef Kortüm

/s/ X i aozhi Liu
Xiaozhi Liu

/s/ James M. Ringl e r
James M. Ringler

/s/ Thaddeus Senko
Thaddeus Senko

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glossary and Definitions

In this report, the following company or industry specific terms and abbreviations are used:

BCC

Best Cost Country

CAPITAL EMPLOYED

Total equity and net debt (net cash).

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Investments in property, plant and equipment.

CAPITAL TURN-OVER RATE

Annual sales in relation to average capital employed.

CPV

Content Per Vehicle, i.e. value of the safety products in a vehicle.

DAYS INVENTORY OUTSTANDING

Outstanding inventory relative to average daily sales.

DAYS RECEIVABLES OUTSTANDING

Outstanding receivables relative to average daily sales.

DEVELOPED MARKETS

Includes North America, Western Europe, Japan and South Korea

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Net income attributable to controlling interest relative to weighted average number of shares (net of treasury shares) assuming dilution and basic, respectively.

EBIT

Earnings before interest and taxes.

FREE CASH FLOW, NET

Cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures, net.

GROSS MARGIN

Gross profit relative to sales.

GROWTH MARKETS

Includes all markets except North America, Western Europe, Japan and South Korea

HCC

High Cost Country

HEADCOUNT

Employees plus temporary, hourly personnel.

104

 
 
LEVERAGE RATIO

Debt  per  the  Policy  in  relation  to  EBITDA  per  the  Policy  (Earnings  Before  Interest,  Taxes,  Depreciation  and  Amortization),  see  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance
Measures in Item 7 for calculation of this non-U.S. GAAP measure.

LMPU

Labor minutes per produced unit.

LVP

Light vehicle production of light motor vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3.5 metric tons.

NET DEBT (CASH)

Short  and  long-term  debt  including  debt-related  derivatives  less  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  see  Non-U.S.  GAAP  Performance  Measures  in  Item  7  for
reconciliation of this non-U.S. GAAP measure.

NET DEBT TO CAPITALIZATION

Net debt in relation to total equity (including non-controlling interest) and net debt.

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

Employees with a continuous employment agreement, recalculated to full time equivalent heads.

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer referring to customers assembling new vehicles.

OPERATING MARGIN

Operating income relative to sales.

OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL

Current  assets  excluding  cash  and  cash  equivalents  less  current  liabilities  excluding  short-term  debt.  Any  current  derivatives  reported  in  current  assets  and
current liabilities related to net debt are excluded from operating working capital. See Non-U.S. GAAP Performance Measures in Item 7 for reconciliation of this
non-U.S. GAAP measure.

OUR MARKET

Our products include seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels.

PRETAX MARGIN

Income before taxes relative to sales.

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED

Operating income and equity in earnings of affiliates, relative to average capital employed.

RETURN ON TOTAL EQUITY

Net income relative to average total equity.

ROA

Rest of Asia includes all Asian countries except China and Japan.

TOTAL EQUITY RATIO

Total equity relative to total assets.

105

 
MUTUAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.47

This agreement regarding termination of employment, “the Agreement”, is entered into

BETWEEN:
(1)
(2)

Autoliv Inc., referred to as “the Company”;
Karin Eliasson, personal identification /610518-7865/ referred to as “the Employee”; together referred to as “the Parties”.

1-

1.1

1.2

2-

2.1

Background

The Employee is employed by the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions outlined in the Employee’s employment agreement dated
April 14, 2014.

The Company and the Employee have agreed that the employment of the Employee shall cease on the terms set out in this agreement.
This agreement will take effect on December 31, 2018, “the Agreement Effective Date”.

The Employee shall be released from all duties linked to the Company on January 1, 2019, “the Release Date”, except for being reasonably
available over the phone and email to answer any questions that the Company may have. Apart from what is explicitly stated below, the
agreement  supersedes  all  earlier  oral  and  written  agreements  between  the  Company,  or  any  associated  company,  and  the  Employee,
relating  to  the  employment  of  the  Employee.  For  the  purpose  of  this  agreement,  “associated  company”  means  a  legal  entity  directly  or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control  with the Company, irrespective  of the country of registration  of such legal
entity.

The provisions of this Separation Agreement, including the avoidance of doubt section 5.6 below, shall not waive or terminate any rights to
indemnification  the  Employee  may  have  under  the  Company’s  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  Re-stated  Bylaws  or  the
Indemnification Agreement between the Employee and the Company.

Termination of the Employment

The Employee’s employment with the Company shall cease 6 calendar months after the Agreement Effective Date, “the Termination Date”.
Any change to be requested by the Employee to apply an earlier termination date due to new employment is subject to the written approval
of the Company.

3-

Compensation

3 .1

The Employee shall be entitled to his current monthly salary, pension contribution and other current perquisites until the termination date.

3.2

3.3

3.4

The Employee shall be entitled to “the Short Term Incentive” in accordance with the Company’s policy for the performance year 2018. The
short-term incentive payment does not constitute a basis for any form of pension entitlement or right to vacation pay.

Not later than one month after the Termination Date, the Company shall pay a lump sum severance payment, “the Severance Payment”,
equivalent  to  18-months  of  the  Executive’s  base  salary  as  in  effect  immediately  prior  date  of  termination  as  stated  in  section  11  in  the
employment agreement. The payment does not constitute a basis for any form of pension entitlement or right to vacation pay.
Not later than in March 2019, the Company shall pay a lump sum cash payment, equivalent to the value of restricted stock units granted
in  February 2017 (as converted following the spin-off

1(3)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.4

3.5

4-

4 .1

4.2

4.3

5-

5 .1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

to Autoliv and Veoneer shares) using the closing share prices of Veoneer and Autoliv on February 28, 2019.

The  Company  shall  withhold  income  tax  for  all  the  compensation  components  and  in  addition  thereto  pay  any  statutory  social  security
charges, as applicable.

Not later than one month following the Termination Date, the Company shall pay any vacation pay accrued until the Agreement Effective
Date. Any vacation days earned between the Release Date and the Termination Date will be registered as used by the Employee.

Undertakings

The Employee has an obligation of loyalty that follows by an employment relationship. Accordingly, the Employee has a duty to be loyal to
the Company until the Termination Date and thus carry out, inter all, the remaining tasks and assignments the Employee is instructed to
carry out as well as not being engaged in any business competing with the Company or its associated companies.

The Employee will continue to be bound by the confidentiality undertaking under section 8 of the Employment Agreement. The Employee is
thereby not allowed to in any way disclose sensitive or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company or any of its associated
companies to any other company or individual not employed by the company or its associated companies. This confidentiality undertaking
is not limited in time.

The Parties agree that the Non-Competition  Covenant as described in section 13 of the Executive’s  employment  agreement  dated April,
2014 becomes operative during the twelve (12) months immediately following the Last Date of Employment and the Company shall pay the
Executive compensation as described in section 13 of the employment agreement dated April 14, 2014.  

Other Issues and Final Settlement

The Employee participates in Autoliv, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”). The Parties agree that the Employee’s entitlement
under  the  Incentive  Plan will  be  handled in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  prescribed  by  the  Incentive  Plan.  The  Employee’s
unexercised stock options, if any, will remain exercisable for three (3) months after the Termination Date or the Early Termination Date or
until the expiration date for the options, whichever occurs first.

The Parties agree that the Employee shall have no priority rights to re-employment.

The  separation  between  the  Employee  and  the  Company  is  based  on  mutual  trust  and  the  Parties  agree  that  they  shall  use  their  best
endeavors to act in a fair and considerate way regarding all issues relating to this separation, including internal and external communication
and other practical matters that have to be resolved as consequence of separation. The Parties have further agreed to keep the contents of
this agreement confidential other than such disclosures that are required to comply with applicable laws.

On the date the Employee  is released from  all duties, the Employee shall return  the Company  all keys, credit  cards,  documents,  mobile
phone,  laptop  computer  and  all  other  property  the  Employee  may  have  in  his  possession  and  which  belongs  to  the  Company  or  its
associated Companies.

The Employee shall resign from all board of director or similar directorship in the Company or in any of the associated companies latest on
the date the Employee is released.

2 (3)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Employee acknowledges that he has no claim whatsoever outstanding against either the Company, its associated companies or any of
their respective officers, directors and employees in connection with the position as a director. To the extent that any such claim ex ists or
may  exist,  the  Employee irrevocably waive such claim and release the Company, its associated companies and each of their respective
officers, directors and employees from any liability whatsoever in respect of such claim.

5.6

Through the signing of this agreement and fulfillment of the provisions herein, all unsettled matters between the Parties shall be deemed to
be  finally  settled  and  the  Employee  shall  have  no  claims  against  the  Company  or  any  of  its  associated  companies  as  regards  to  salary,
vacation pay, incentives, pension contributions, damages or otherwise.

6-

Governing Law and Disputes

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Sweden.

This agreement has been duly executed in two original copies, of which each of the Parties has taken a copy.

Stockholm, Sweden

March 23, 2018

On behalf of Autoliv Inc.

Jan Carlson
CEO & President

The Employee

Karin Eliasson

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 (3)
Exhibit 21

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

Brazil
Autoliv do Brasil Ltda.

Canada
Autoliv Canada, Inc.
VOA Canada, Inc.

China
Autoliv (Baoding) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Changchun) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (China) Steering Wheel Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (China) Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Guangzhou) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Jiangsu) Automotive Safety Components Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Nanjing) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Shanghai) Vehicle Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Shanghai) Management Co., Ltd.
Autoliv (Shanghai) Vehicle Safety System Technical Center Co., Ltd.
Autoliv Shenda (Tai Cang) Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd. (60%)
Autoliv Shenda (Nanjing) Automotive Components Co., Ltd. (60%)
Mei-An Autoliv Co., Ltd. (59%)

Estonia
AS Norma  

France
Autoliv France SNC
Autoliv Isodelta SAS
Livbag SAS
N.C.S. Pyrotechnie et Technologies SAS
OEA Europe SARL
Sociéte Franco Suédoise d'Investissement SAS

Germany
Autoliv Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
Autoliv BV & Co. KG

Hungary
Autoliv Kft.

India
Autoliv India Private Ltd.

Indonesia
P.T. Autoliv Indonesia (99%)

Italy
Autoliv Italia S.p.A.

Japan
Autoliv Japan Ltd.

Mexico
Autoliv Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V.
Autoliv Mexico East S.A. de C.V.
Autoliv Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Autoliv Safety Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Autoliv Steering Wheels Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.

The Netherlands

Autoliv ASP B.V.
Autoliv Autosicherheitstechnik B.V.

Philippines
Autoliv Cebu Safety Manufacturing, Inc.

Poland
Autoliv Poland Sp. z o.o.

Romania
Autoliv Romania S.R.L.

Russia
OOO Autoliv
ZAO Norma-Osvar

South Africa
Autoliv Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

South Korea
Autoliv Corporation

Spain
Autoliv BKI S.A.U.
Autoliv KLE S.A.U.
Autosafety S.L.

Sweden
Autoliv AB
Autoliv Development AB
Autoliv East Europe AB
Autoliv Holding AB
Autoliv Sverige AB

Thailand
Autoliv Asia ROH, Ltd.
Autoliv Thailand Ltd.

Tunisia
ASW 3 NADHOUR

Turkey
Autoliv Cankor Otomotiv Emniyet Sistemleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.

United Kingdom
Airbags International Ltd
Autoliv Spring Dynamics Ltd
Autoliv U.K. Holding Ltd

USA
Autoliv ASP, Inc. (Indiana)
Autoliv Holding, Inc. (Delaware)
Autoliv Safety Technology, Inc. (Delaware)
OEA, Inc. (Delaware)

All subsidiaries are wholly owned unless otherwise indicated.

The names of certain subsidiaries, which considered in the aggregate would not constitute a "significant subsidiary" as such term is defined in the
regulations under the federal securities laws, have been omitted from the foregoing list.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-213181) of Autoliv, Inc., and

(2) Registration  Statements  (Forms  S-8 No. 333-160771, No. 333-117505 and No. 333-91768)  pertaining to the Autoliv,  Inc. Amended and

Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan;

of our reports dated February 21, 2019, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Autoliv, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting of Autoliv, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Autoliv, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Exhibit 23

/s/ Ernst & Young AB

Stockholm, Sweden
February 21, 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION of
the Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Mikael Bratt, certify that:

Exhibit 31.1

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of AUTOLIV, INC.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a -15(f) and 15d-
15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.

b.

c.

d.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most
recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.

b.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting.

Date: February 21, 2019

/s/ Mikael Bratt
Mikael Bratt
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION of
the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Mats Backman, certify that:

Exhibit 31.2

1.

2.

3.

4.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of AUTOLIV, INC.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a -15(f) and 15d-
15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.

b.

c.

d.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most
recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.

b.

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting.

Date: February 21, 2019

/s/ Mats Backman
Mats Backman
Chief Financial Officer

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.1

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Autoliv, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mikael Bratt, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

1.

2.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Mikael Bratt
Name: Mikael Bratt
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 21, 2019

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by
the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.2

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Autoliv, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mats Backman, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

1.

2.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Mats Backman
Name: Mats Backman
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: February 21, 2019

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by
the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41

Each year, Autoliv’s  
products save over  
30,000 lives

autoliv.com