Form S-3ASR

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(Address, Including zip code, and telephone number, Including area code, or Registrant’s principal executive offices)

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time on or after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. þ

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. þ

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

We, or a selling stockholder, may offer and sell from time to time in one or more offerings shares of our common stock at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering. Each time any shares of common stock are offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering, including the names of any selling stockholders, if applicable. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We and the selling stockholders, if any, may offer the common stock directly to investors, through agents, underwriters or dealers on a continued or delayed basis. Each prospectus supplement will provide the terms of the plan of distribution relating to the offering.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRW.” On August 7, 2012, the closing price of our common stock was $42.39 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. You should consider the risk factors described in this prospectus on page 4, in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

As used in this prospectus, the terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us,” unless the context otherwise requires, refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “Commission,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we and/or a selling stockholder, if applicable, may offer and sell from time to time common stock in one or more offerings or resales. Each time shares of common stock are offered, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering, including the names of any selling stockholders, if applicable. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by us. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus.

You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, including any information incorporated in this prospectus by reference, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by us, is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of these documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

We are among the world’s largest and most diversified suppliers of automotive systems, modules and components to global automotive original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, and related aftermarkets. We conduct substantially all of our operations through subsidiaries. These operations primarily encompass the design, manufacture and sale of active and passive safety related products. Active safety related products principally refer to vehicle dynamic controls (primarily braking and steering), and passive safety related products principally refer to occupant restraints (primarily airbags and seat belts) and safety electronics (electronic control units and crash and occupant weight sensors). We operate our business along four segments: Chassis Systems, Occupant Safety Systems, Electronics and Automotive Components. We are primarily a “Tier 1” original equipment supplier, with over 84% of our end-customer sales in 2011 made to major OEMs. Of our 2011 sales, approximately 49% were in Europe, 32% were in North America, 14% were in Asia, and 5% were in the rest of the world. Our history in the automotive supply business dates back to the early 1900s.

Our principal executive offices are located at 12001 Tech Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan 48150, and our telephone number is (734) 855-2600. Our website address is http://www.trw.com. Our website is not part of this prospectus.

This prospectus includes and incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend that those statements be covered by the safe harbors created under those laws. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, intentions, objectives, goals, strategies, forecasts, future events, future revenue or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, business trends and other information that is not historical information. When used in this prospectus, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts” and future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could” or “may,” as well as variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements are so designated. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in our periodic filings with the Commission, including those described under “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends and data, are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions, and apply only as of the date of this prospectus. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that management’s expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved.

There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by our forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors,” in our reports incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and include:

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this prospectus and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement hereto and in our other filings with the Commission incorporated by reference herein and therein. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investing in our securities involves risk. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10–K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10–Q, which are incorporated by reference herein, and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus, before acquiring any of such securities. If any of the risks or uncertainties so described actually occur, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially affected and the trading price of our securities could decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

In the case of a sale of securities by us, the use of proceeds will be specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. In the case of a sale of securities by any selling stockholder, we will not receive any of the proceeds from such sale.

In the first quarter of 2012, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” as amended by ASU 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05.” These updates revise the manner in which reporting entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements. The following selected financial information revises historical information to illustrate the new presentation required by these pronouncements for the periods presented. The Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Losses) set forth below have been derived from our audited financial statements for each of the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, but are not covered by the auditors’ reports issued on such financial statements. The following information should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

In this section, we describe material features and rights of our common stock. This summary does not purport to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Delaware law and our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (our “certificate of incorporation”) and third amended and restated by-laws (our “by-laws”), each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 122,047,007 shares were issued and outstanding as of August 6, 2012, and (ii) 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, including 500,000 shares of Series A junior participating preferred stock of which no shares are currently issued and outstanding.

Voting Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Dividend Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends if, as and when dividends are declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, after payment of dividends required to be paid on outstanding preferred stock, if any. Our senior credit facilities and indentures impose restrictions on our ability to declare dividends with respect to our common stock.

Liquidation Rights. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, any business combination or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably the assets available for distribution to the stockholders after payment of liabilities and accrued but unpaid dividends and liquidation preferences on any outstanding preferred stock.

Other Matters. The common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and is not subject to further calls or assessment by us. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Each share of our common stock has associated with it the right to purchase one share of Series A junior participating preferred stock under our rights agreement, dated as of January 23, 2004, between us and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor rights agent (the “rights agreement”). Pursuant to the rights agreement, the rights will expire at the close of business on January 22, 2014, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by us.

Our board of directors has the authority to issue shares of Series A junior participating preferred stock from time to time and to increase the number of authorized shares of Series A junior participating preferred stock. The Series A junior participating preferred stock ranks junior to all other preferred stock, but senior to our common stock. The holders of Series A junior participating preferred stock vote with the holders of our common stock as a single class, unless otherwise required by law, and are entitled to 1,000 votes per share. The board of directors may not effect any amendment to the terms of the Series A junior participating preferred stock which would adversely affect the rights, powers and preferences thereof without the prior approval of the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding Series A junior participating preferred stock. The holders of our Series A junior participating preferred stock are entitled to receive dividends equal to the greater of $1.00 per share and an amount equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of any dividends declared on the common stock. In the event we are subject to any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Series A junior participating preferred stock are entitled to receive an aggregate per share liquidation payment of 1,000 times the payment made per share of common stock. The Series A junior participating preferred stock may not be redeemed.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board. Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board, but must consist of not less than three or more than fifteen directors.

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), unless otherwise provided in our certificate of incorporation, directors serving on a classified board may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. In addition, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws also provide that any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum.

The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not expressly provide for cumulative voting.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our certificate of incorporation prohibits stockholder action by written consent. It also provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our board or the president or secretary at the direction of the board of directors.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our by-laws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary.

Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting. Our by-laws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may impede stockholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our certificate of incorporation provides that the following provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws may be amended only by a vote of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote:

In addition, our certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors the authority to amend and repeal our by-laws without a stockholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or our certificate of incorporation.

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director, except for liability:

Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as an indemnification agreement executed with each of our directors and executive officers, provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We are also expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws as well as the indemnification agreements described above may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Under our rights agreement, each share of our common stock has associated with it one preferred stock purchase right. Each of these rights entitles its holder to purchase, at a purchase price of $115.00, subject to adjustment, one one-thousandth of a share of Series A junior participating preferred stock under circumstances provided for in the rights agreement.

The exercise of the rights under our rights agreement would cause substantial dilution to a person attempting to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors and therefore would significantly increase the price that person would have to pay to complete the acquisition. Our rights agreement may deter a potential acquisition or tender offer.

The rights will expire at the close of business on January 22, 2014, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by us.

Following a “distribution date,” the rights would become exercisable and we would issue separate certificates representing the rights, which would trade separately from the shares of our common stock.

Under our rights agreement, a person becomes an “acquiring person” if the person, alone or together with a group, acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock. However, an “acquiring person” shall not include us, any of our subsidiaries, any of our employee benefit plans, any person or entity acting pursuant to such employee benefit plans, Automotive Investors L.L.C. or any affiliates thereof or any transferees thereof of at least 15% of our then outstanding common stock or, subject to limitations on their ability to acquire additional shares of common stock, Northrop Grumman Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries. Our rights agreement also contains provisions designed to prevent the inadvertent triggering of the rights by institutional or certain other stockholders.

If any person becomes an acquiring person, each holder of a right, other than the acquiring person, will be entitled to purchase, at the purchase price, a number of our shares of common stock having a market value equal to two times the purchase price. If, following a public announcement that a person has become an acquiring person:

each holder of a right, other than the acquiring person, will be entitled to purchase, at the purchase price, a number of shares of common stock of the surviving entity having a market value equal to two times the purchase price.

After a person becomes an acquiring person, but prior to such person acquiring 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock, our board of directors may exchange the rights, other than rights owned by the acquiring person, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Series A junior participating preferred stock, or of a share of our preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges, for each right.

At any time until a person has become an acquiring person, our board of directors may redeem all of the rights at a redemption price of $.01 per right. On the redemption date, the rights will expire and the only entitlement of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price.

A holder of rights will not, as such, have any rights as our stockholder, including rights to vote or receive dividends.

For so long as the rights are redeemable, our board of directors may amend any provisions in the rights agreement without the approval of any holders of the rights. At any time when the rights are no longer redeemable, our board of directors may amend the provisions of our rights agreement without the approval of any holders of the rights in order to:

provided, that no amendment adopted after the rights are no longer redeemable may adversely affect the interests of the holders of rights, and no such amendment may cause the rights again to become redeemable or cause the rights agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with the amendment provision.

The distribution of the rights will not be taxable to our stockholders or us. Our stockholders may recognize taxable income when the rights become exercisable for our common stock or an acquiring company.

We have opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to specified exceptions, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder. “Business combinations” include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the “interested stockholder.” Subject to various exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. These restrictions generally prohibit or delay the accomplishment of mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts.

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRW.”

The DGCL does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, which would apply so long as our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of common stock. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate acquisitions.

One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive the stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Our Commission filings are available to the public over the Internet at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the Commission at its Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRW”. You may inspect reports and other information concerning us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website at http://www.trw.com under “Investors” as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Commission. Information contained on our website, however, is not and should not be deemed a part of this prospectus.

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the Commission prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. Information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we will make with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and until the applicable offering is completed.

You may request a copy of any or all of these filings at no cost, by writing or calling us at:

You should read the information relating to us in this prospectus together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished to, but not filed with, the Commission.

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may sell the common stock from time to time in any of the following ways:

The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of such shares of common stock, including:

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may effect the distribution of the shares from time to time in one or more transactions either:

Transactions through dealers may include block trades in which dealers will attempt to sell the common stock as agent but may position and resell the block as principal to facilitate the transaction. The common stock may be sold through dealers or agents or to dealers acting as market makers. If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities (other than any securities purchased upon exercise of any over-allotment option).

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions paid to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any underwriters, broker-dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such persons, and any profits they receive on resale of the securities, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters or agents and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

The common stock may be sold on any national securities exchange on which the common stock may be listed at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or in transactions that include special offerings and exchange distributions pursuant to and in accordance with the rules of such exchanges.

We and/or the selling stockholders, if applicable, may enter into derivative transactions or forward sale agreements on shares of common stock with third parties. In such event, we or the selling stockholders may pledge the shares underlying such transactions to the counterparties under such agreements, to secure our or the selling stockholders’ delivery obligation. The counterparties or third parties may borrow shares of common stock from us,

the selling stockholders or third parties and sell such shares in a public offering. This prospectus may be delivered in conjunction with such sales. Upon settlement of such transactions, we or the selling stockholders may deliver shares of common stock to the counterparties that, in turn, the counterparties may deliver to us, the selling stockholders or third parties, as the case may be, to close out the open borrowings of common stock. The counterparty in such transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

A prospectus supplement may be used for resales from time to time by any holder of our securities that may acquire such shares of common stock upon an in-kind distribution by any existing security holder of all or a portion of such existing security holder’s shares to its limited and general partners. Such selling stockholders may include direct and indirect transferees, pledgees, donees and successors of the selling stockholders. Further, a prospectus supplement may be used in connection with sales or resales by any general partner of a selling stockholder in connection with sales by such general partner for cash or subsequent transfers by such general partner to its limited partners of their ratable portion of the shares then owned by such general partner, together with resales of such shares by such limited partners.

Underwriters or agents may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities and are permitted so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering. The underwriters or agents also may impose a penalty bid, which permits them to reclaim selling concessions allowed to syndicate activities that may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. These activities, if begun, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on any exchange on which the securities are traded, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRW.”

Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us and the selling stockholders, if applicable, against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business. The specific terms of the lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York. An investment vehicle comprised of selected partners of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, members of their families, related parties and others own an interest representing less than 1% of the capital commitments of funds controlled by The Blackstone Group L.P.

The consolidated financial statements of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. appearing in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2011 (including the related financial statement schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.’s management assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The following table lists the expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement, including amendments thereto, and the printing and distribution of the prospectus contained therein, all of which will be paid by the registrant. All amounts listed below, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, are estimates.

The registrant is a Delaware corporation. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation or enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of being or having been in any such capacity, if such person acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article VIII and Article IX of the registrant’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide, respectively, that, except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, no director of the registrant shall be personally liable to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director and that the registrant may indemnify directors and officers of the registrant to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Article IV of the registrant’s Third Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that, with respect to third party claims, the registrant, to the fullest extent permitted and in the manner required by the laws of the State of Delaware, as in effect from time to time, shall indemnify any person who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including any appeal thereof), whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative in nature (other than an action by or in the right of the

registrant), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the registrant, or, if at a time when he or she was a director or officer of the registrant, is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the interests of, the registrant as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent (a “Subsidiary Officer”) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise including any charitable or not-for-profit public service organization or trade association (an “Affiliated Entity”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), costs, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that (i) the registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director or officer of the registrant or a Subsidiary Officer of any Affiliated Entity against expenses incurred in connection with an action, suit, proceeding or investigation to which such person is threatened to be made a party but does not become a party unless such expenses were incurred with the approval of the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the Chairman, a Vice Chairman or the President of the registrant and (ii) the registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify against any amount paid in settlement unless the registrant has consented to such settlement. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this paragraph against costs or expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding commenced by such person against the registrant or any Affiliated Entity or any person who is or was a director, officer, partner, member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the registrant or a Subsidiary Officer of any Affiliated Entity in their capacity as such, but such indemnification may be provided by the registrant in a specific case as permitted by the Third Amended and Restated By-laws.

The registrant’s Third Amended and Restated By-laws also provide that, with respect to derivative claims, the registrant, to the fullest extent permitted and in the manner required by the laws of the State of Delaware, as in effect from time to time shall indemnify any person who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit (including any appeal thereof) brought by or in the right of the registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the registrant, or, if at a time when he or she was a director or officer of the registrant, is or was serving at the request of, or to represent the interests of, the registrant as a Subsidiary Officer of an Affiliated Entity against expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the registrant unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such judgment was rendered shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses and costs as the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper; provided, however, that the registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director or officer of the registrant or a Subsidiary Officer of any Affiliated Entity against expenses incurred in connection with an action or suit to which such person is threatened to be made a party but does not become a party unless such expenses were incurred with the approval of the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the Chairman, a Vice Chairman or the President of the registrant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a person shall not be entitled, as a matter of right, to indemnification pursuant to this paragraph against costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action or suit in the right of the registrant commenced by such person, but such indemnification may be provided by the registrant in any specific case as permitted under the Third Amended and Restated By-laws.

The registrant’s indemnification agreement executed with each of the registrant’s directors and executive officers (each, an “Indemnitee”) provides that the registrant will indemnify each Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in connection with (among other things) the Indemnitee’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant and the Indemnitee’s capacity as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary,

employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity at the time the Indemnitee was a director, officer, employee or agent of the registrant. This obligation includes, subject to certain terms and conditions, indemnification for any expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding. The registrant may be required to advance expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in defending any such action, suit or proceeding, in which case, the Indemnitee will be obligated to reimburse the registrant for the amounts advanced if it is later determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses. However, the registrant is not obligated under the indemnification agreement to indemnify any Indemnitee in connection with:

Further, the indemnification provided under the indemnification agreement is not exclusive of any other indemnity rights, but the Indemnitee will not be entitled to double payment.

The registrant has also obtained officers’ and directors’ liability insurance which insures against liabilities that officers and directors of the registrant may, in such capacities, incur.

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Livonia, State of Michigan, on August 10, 2012.


TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

By:		/s/ JOSEPH S. CANTIE
Name:		Joseph S. Cantie
Title:		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joseph S. Cantie, Robin A. Walker-Lee and Peter R. Rapin or any of them, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:


Delaware		81-0597059
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(2)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)	Amount of Registration Fee(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	—	—	—	—
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights(3)	—	—	—	—


About This Prospectus			1
The Company			2
Forward-Looking Statements			2
Risk Factors			4
Use of Proceeds			4
Selected Financial Data			4
Description of Common Stock			5
Where You Can Find Additional Information			10
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference			10
Plan of Distribution			11
Legal Matters			12
Experts			12


	Year Ended
	December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010			December 31, 2009
Net earnings	$	1,195		$	875		$	73
Other comprehensive earnings (losses):
Foreign currency translation		(141	)		12			129
Retirement obligations, net of tax		(46	)		(35	)		(648	)
Deferred cash flow hedges, net of tax		(56	)		7			142

Total other comprehensive earnings (losses)		(243	)		(16	)		(377	)
Comprehensive earnings (losses)		952			859			(304	)
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		39			41			21

Comprehensive earnings (losses) attributable to TRW	$	913		$	818		$	(325	)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company


Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	(1	)
FINRA Filing Fee	(2	)
NYSE Supplemental Listing Fee	(2	)
Printing and duplicating expenses	(2	)
Accounting fees and expenses	(2	)
Legal fees and expenses	(2	)
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses	(2	)
Miscellaneous expenses	(2	)
Total	(2	)


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ JOHN C. PLANT John C. Plant	Chairman of the Board President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	August 10, 2012

/s/ JOSEPH S. CANTIE Joseph S. Cantie	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	August 10, 2012

/s/ TAMMY S. MITCHELL Tammy S. Mitchell	Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	August 10, 2012

/s/ NEIL P. SIMPKINS Neil P. Simpkins	Lead Director	August 10, 2012

/s/ JAMES F. ALBAUGH James F. Albaugh	Director	August 10, 2012

/s/ FRANCOIS J. CASTAING Francois J. Castaing	Director	August 10, 2012


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibits

1.1*		Form of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement

3.1		Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (File No. 001-31970) filed on March 29, 2004)

3.2		Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (File No. 001-31970) filed on November 17, 2004)

4.1		Form of Certificate of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (File No. 001-31970) filed on February 25, 2010)

4.2(a)		Form of Rights Agreement dated January 23, 2004 between TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and National City Bank as Rights Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (File No. 333-110513) filed on January 26, 2004)

(b)		Letter Agreement, dated September 11, 2009, between Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. establishing Computershare as the successor Rights Agent under the Registrant’s Rights Agreement dated January 23, 2004 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2009 of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (File No. 001-31970) filed on November 4, 2009

5.1*		Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

23.1*		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2		Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in Opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1		Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereto)

101.INS**		XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH**		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL**		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB**		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE**		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document