Numerous studies demonstrated the life saving capabilities of ESC - In
addition to ESC Continental is taking crash avoidance to the next level
with a
portfolio of products FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany and AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 7 /PRNewswire/
-- The international automotive supplier Continental today applauded the
United Nations auto safety working group and the National Highway and
Traffic Safety Administration for adopting last week Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) as a Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for all new light
passenger vehicles. The proposed Global Technical Requirement follows the
requirements of the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for ESC
established in 2007: ESC is required on all light passenger vehicles sold
in the U.S. by 2012. The European Union, China, India and Japan now must
propose an ESC requirement in accordance with the regulation agreed to by
the working group.
"This is good news for motorists around the world who will benefit from
the life-saving benefits of ESC," said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, CTO and
Board Member of Continental AG. "Preventing crashes should be the first
goal of motor vehicle safety efforts and ESC is among the best technologies
available to do so. We were the leader in introducing ESC to the mass
market and are working with governments, safety groups and our auto
manufacturer customers to make sure consumers understand that ESC is 'must
have' safety equipment for the next vehicle they purchase."
Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death and serious injury in
multiple age groups worldwide and driver error is the most significant
factor in most of these crashes. "As a result, drivers need tools to avoid
critical situations in daily traffic and help prevent crashes," said Dr.
Ralf Cramer, President of Continental's Chassis & Safety Division. ESC
works to automatically correct oversteer and understeer and helps keep
vehicles on the road by comparing the driver's intended direction with the
actual direction of the vehicle. When a discrepancy is detected, ESC
applies braking at individual wheels, and reduces engine torque, to help
keep the vehicle under the driver's control.
Neumann hinted at the results of numerous studies in Asia, Europe and
North America that demonstrated that ESC can save thousands of lives and
significantly reduce the number of crashes. In the U.S. alone, government
studies project that more than 10,000 lives a year can be saved, prompting
officials to call ESC the greatest vehicle safety device after the seat
belt.
"During the last ten years the number of new cars equipped with ESC has
risen steadily to a rate of about 50 percent in the US in 2007, 50 percent
in the EU and 25 percent in Japan. "So there is still some room left for
further improvement," said Neumann. In 2007 Continental -- being one of the
two market leaders worldwide -- supplied about 8.6 million ESC systems to
its OE customers.
"The technological tools necessary for helping make driving as
accident- free as humanly possible -- or for substantially reducing the
incidence of crashes and injuries -- is here," said Cramer. "Electronic
Stability Control is a key part of these developments that has made
crash-avoidance a primary focus of automakers and their suppliers. Improved
sensors, processors and general electronic capabilities lead to a wide
range of possibilities to fight the causes of crashes."
In addition Continental is already taking crash avoidance and
management of driving safety to the next level. By integrating its active
and passive safety feature portfolio into the ContiGuard(R) safety system,
Continental opens up a new dimension in safety thinking: Continental's
Vision Zero, a vision of modern mobility where traffic fatalities and
severe injuries no longer occur.
"Overall these are exciting times for companies in the business of
promoting safety," said Neumann. "A Global Technical Requirement means ESC
suppliers such as Continental as well as auto manufacturers only have to
meet one regulatory standard, not several. This improves efficiency and
reduces costs by eliminating market-specific design variations, validation
tests and manufacturing requirements."
With targeted annual sales of more than euro 26.4 billion for 2008, the
Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide.
As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain
and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics,
tires and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards
enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental
is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today,
the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200
locations in 36 countries.
As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive
industry, the Chassis & Safety Division of Continental AG integrates
extensive know-how and leading-edge quality in the fields of active and
passive driving safety, safety and chassis sensorics, and chassis
components. The Division achieves sales of more than euro 5 billion (based
on 2006 figures) with a workforce of more than 27,500 (2007). Chassis &
Safety develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, air bag control
systems, occupant classification systems, washer systems as well as
electronic air suspension systems.
Internet media databases: http://www.continental-corporation.com
SOURCE Continental
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CONTACT:
Kathryn Blackwell, Communications Department,
Continental, NAFTA Region, +1-248-462-9114 (Mobile); or Please
direct queries and requests for further information to: Nicole
Geissler, External Communications, Continental, Division Chassis
& Safety, Germany, +49 69 7603-8492, Fax: +49 69 7603-3945,
nicole.geissler@contiautomotive.com
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