Marina del Rey, Calif.(February 7, 2002) - With more than 200 representatives of virtually every major automaker and auto supplier in the world in attendance at the latest meeting of the MIT Automotive Consortium, keynote speaker Alex Lidow offered a roadmap for a revolution in automotive systems. Centering around a revolutionary new 42-volt standard for automotive electrical systems, the roadmap is designed to meet fast-growing demand for new power features and electronics in next-generation vehicles that are safer, more comfortable, and more fuel-efficient.

Dr. Lidow, who is chief executive officer of International Rectifier Corporation, outlined innovations in automotive power management technology that have the potential to nearly double fuel mileage and improve vehicle performance and safety. He estimated that the automotive market for power management technology could grow from about $350 million today to more than $11 billion by the end of the decade.

ON24 field reporter Andy Valvur interviewed Dr. Lidow and Dr. John Kassakian, MIT Consortium founding director, at the meeting. A 7-minute clip of that interview as well as the full replay of Dr. Lidow's keynote address is available on-line.

About International Rectifier

International Rectifier is a world leader in power management technology that improves functionality, speed, compactness, and portability in information technology and other end products. IR's analog ICs, advanced-circuit devices, power systems, and components enable Internet hardware to gain speed and reliability, allow portable electronics to run longer off a single charge, improve automotive fuel efficiency, and cut energy consumption in home appliances and industrial motors. The company is the pioneer and market leader in the $4 billion power MOSFET industry, and over 20 companies are licensed under its power MOSFET patents. IR serves market leaders around the world, and more than half its revenue comes from outside the United States.

About the MIT Consortium

In 1993, MIT's "Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems" began research on advanced automotive electrical system architectures. The initial program, which was sponsored by a European automobile manufacturer, involved a series of informal workshops with component suppliers and other car companies to discuss the subject. By the end of 1995, participants in the workshops developed a consensus opinion on 42V DC as an optimal approach to advanced automotive electrical systems for next-generation, conventionally-powered vehicles. At that point, eight companies agreed to form a research consortium at MIT to study critical issues of the proposed design. During the past five years, research on this topic has continued and 46 additional companies have joined the "MIT/Industry Consortium on Advanced Automotive Electrical/Electronic Components and Systems." Learn more at www.mitconsortium.org.

High Resolution JPEGs are available in the Press Room.