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October 2005 > 10/27/05
Accident Reconstruction
News Article
Continental Sees Increased Electronic Stability Control
Installation Rates for Model Year 2006 Vehicles
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental
is launching production for several new electronic stability control (ESC)
programs in North America on model year 2006 vehicles. Currently there are
51 model year 2006 vehicles in North America now available with Continental's
ESC, an increase of eleven models over last year. ESC growth is part of
a broader overall trend of an increase in the use of electronic brake systems
in the North American automotive market -- more than 75% of all vehicles
will now have an electronic brake system, which includes anti-lock brakes
and traction control. ESC works as a component of the Electronic Brake System
to help reduce the risk of serious crashes, including rollovers.
Continental, a leading global manufacturer of electronic
stability control technology, projects that it will supply more than 2.2
million ESC units to automakers in North America in calendar year 2006,
an increase more than 80 percent over expected deliveries for calendar year
2005.
"This is excellent news for everyone interested in keeping
America's roads safer," said Bill Kozyra, president and CEO, Continental
Teves North America, observing the increase in ESC applications in North
America. "NHTSA announced last fall a 67% decrease in single vehicle
crashes in SUVs equipped with ESC, and in passenger cars, a reduction of
35%. These results are concurrent with earlier studies by the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the University of Iowa, and in Europe
and Japan that have shown ESC is proven to reduce single-vehicle crashes
significantly. We've been working with our customers to help educate them
about the technology, and also with consumers, about the benefits of ESC,
so they know to ask for it on their next vehicle."
IIHS also recently announced that adding ESC to cars and SUVs
significantly lowers insurance losses for crash damage to insured people's
own vehicles. Collision coverage losses were 30 percent lower for SUV models
with ESC than for previous models of the same SUVs before the technology
was added. Losses went down 16 percent for luxury cars and 13 percent for
sports cars (most cars with ESC are in these two groups).
Continental has begun or will soon begin production of ESC
systems on nine new model year 2006 vehicles in North America (listed below),
and will continue to provide ESC to a number of automakers as carry-over
programs from model year 2005 vehicles.
New Continental applications for model year 2006
include:
* BMW M3 (Dynamic Stability Control)
* BMW M5 (Dynamic Stability Control)
* Dodge Charger (Electronic Stability Program)
* Honda CR-V (Electronic Stability Control)
* Infiniti QX56 (Vehicle Dynamic Control)
* Jeep Commander (Electronic Stability Program)
* Volkswagen Golf (Electronic Stabilization Program)
* Volkswagen Jetta (Electronic Stabilization Program)
* Volvo XC70 (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control)
Electronic stability control significantly improves vehicle
stability in all three primary areas of vehicle performance: accelerating,
cornering and braking. Using electrical sensors strategically placed throughout
the vehicle, the system analyzes steering wheel activity, wheel speeds,
acceleration and the vehicle's rotation about its vertical axis and continually
analyzes this data to determine whether the actual course of the vehicle
corresponds to the desired direction. By braking individual wheels and reducing
engine torque, it automatically corrects understeer and oversteer, and helps
keep vehicles on the road.
With 2004 sales of approximately $15.6 billion (US), Continental
AG is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics,
tires and technical rubber products. Continental Automotive Systems' North
American operation is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. and is a leading
global supplier of quality automotive systems that contribute to driver
safety, comfort and peace-of-mind. For additional information, visit our
media website http://www.contitevesna.com/index2.htm .
Source: Continental
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