Auto Safety

Tokyo July 17 2008 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will unveil its new Pajero Sport*1 SUV model at the Moscow Auto Salon 2008 (The Moscow Motor Show) to be held at the Crocus Expo in Moscow between August 26 and September 7 (opens to the public on August 29). The new Pajero Sport will be phased in selected regions*2 such as Russia, the ASEAN area, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania starting in the fall this year.

2009 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

*1 The model will carry a different name in different markets: Montero Sport in South America, Nativa in Latin America and Challenger in Australia.

In 1958 Volvo Cars had two models, today there are ten series and 84 model variants

July 8, 2008 -- 50 years of Volvo in Germany - a success story from the "economic miracle" until the 21st century. This year sees Germany holding the position of third largest market in the world for Volvo Car Corporation, following the USA and Sweden, Volvo Cars' home market. The fate of the Swedish, premium-brand automotive manufacturer, which celebrated its 80th birthday last year (2007), is controlled in Germany by Volvo Car Germany GmbH based in Rodenkirchen in Cologne.

Research project AKTIV: Intelligent cars set to revolutionise safety as AKTIV partners research for a safer future

Wolfsburg, 25 June 2008 - Leading companies from the automotive industry as well as from the telecommunications and software development sector are today presenting their results at the halfway stage in one of Germany’s most important road safety projects - AKTIV. The declared aim of this research initiative launched back in September 2006 and running until August 2010 is to prevent accidents in future by further enhancing active safety, relieving drivers and harmonising traffic flows. Volkswagen AG is one of the partners of the initiative sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

ALFDORF, Germany, June 17, 2008 -- A subsidiary of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), TRW Automotive GmbH, today unveiled a new head protection system for convertible vehicles. It is the first system located in the seat mount rather than the door trim - designed to offer head protection for the unique characteristics of convertibles. The development furthers TRW's strategy of innovation to help vehicle manufacturers provide intelligent safety solutions for consumers.

The system combines a thorax or pelvic-thorax module together with a head restraint module located in the upper seat-back. It is due to be launched with a major European vehicle manufacturer during the first half of this year.

Three BICSA security awards and a third consecutive overall manufacturer award for the Vorsprung durch Technik brand

Jun 18, 2008 -- For the third successive year Audi has stolen the show in the 2008 British Insurance Car Security Awards, not only scoring three category wins but also taking away the overall Manufacturer of the Year Award for the widest range of cars offering five star security.

Highlights:
• Audi wins third overall Manufacturer Award in British Insurance Car Security Awards, presented by the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, Thatcham on Wednesday June 18th
• New Audi A4 range voted most secure in compact executive class, S8 best in performance car class, TT Roadster best in Convertible/Roadster class

Campaign Has Made 1.2 Million Children Worldwide Aware of Road Safety

June17, 2008 -- Every year since its launch in 2000, the international ‘Safety For All’ campaign has offered primary school teachers the opportunity to make their students aware of road safety thanks to a free teaching kit and a drawing competition.

This year’s campaign reached out to another 1.2 million children worldwide aged between 7 and 11 years through the teaching kit. Eight countries competed in the drawing competition, with nearly 6,000 entries on the theme of ‘Road safety is our business!’

Government safety agencies say program has helped change child safety "culture" and saved "hundreds of lives"

LOS ANGELES, 2008-06-12 — Safe Kids Buckle Up, the child passenger safety program of Safe Kids USA sponsored by General Motors and Chevrolet, has reached a milestone no other program can claim: one million child safety seats checked for proper installation.

One-millionth Child Safety Seat Checked: Los Angeles Coordinator for Safe Kids USA Marisela De La Torre (right) checks the car seat restraint setup on Ulrick Major at a Safe Kids USA program sponsored by General Motors and Chevrolet in Los Angeles, California Thursday, June 12, 2008. (Photo by Tyler Mallory for Safe Kids USA)

Ford's sustainability report provides updates on the key topics of climate change, mobility, vehicle safety, human rights and sustaining Ford

DEARBORN, Mich., June 11, 2008 – Despite business and economic challenges, Ford Motor Company remains deeply committed to building a sustainable company and contributing to a sustainable world. The company’s progress on social, economic and environmental issues is outlined in Ford’s 2007/2008 Sustainability Report released today.

Highlights:
* Ford’s blueprint for sustainability outlines the company’s CO2 strategy through the year 2030.
* Ford last year launched EcoBoost, an engine technology that mates direct injection and turbocharging to a gasoline engine to improve vehicle fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

Ford's SYNC 911 Assist Delivers Direct Connection to Emergency Services

DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2008 – Ford will roll out 911 Assist, the latest addition to the award-winning SYNC in-vehicle communications system, later this year with full support of one of the nation's leading emergency service associations, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

Highlights:
* 911 Assist will help quickly connect vehicle occupants directly to a local 911 emergency operator following an air bag deployment in a SYNC-equipped vehicle.
* SYNC 911 Assist is a non-subscription based emergency connection to 911 that launches later this year.

Experts say the best-selling convertible offers health benefits of sun-filled driving fun

DEARBORN, Mich., June 4, 2008 -- When Ford Chief Engineer for Safety Systems Steve Kozak decided to give a new car to his teenage daughter as a graduation gift only one model would do: the 2008 Ford Mustang GT convertible, the No. 1-selling and top safety-rated drop-top in the U.S.

2008 Ford Mustang V6 Pony Package Convertible

Highlights:
* The 2008 Ford Mustang GT is first convertible ever with top National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety ratings.
* Experts say the best-selling convertible offers health benefits of sun-filled driving fun.

Euro NCAP awards 5/4/3 star rating to new 2008 Ford Kuga, an unprecedented achievement in its class

BRENTWOOD, Essex, May 28, 2008 – In the latest phase of Euro NCAP safety tests the all-new 2008 Ford Kuga compact crossover has achieved the best combination of star ratings, placing the car at the top of the table in the Euro NCAP Small Off-road 4x4 group. Awarded the maximum five stars for Adult Occupant Protection, this rating is enhanced by four stars for Child Occupant Protection and three stars for Pedestrian Protection.

2008 Ford Kuga (UK)

Highlights:
* New Ford Kuga achieves a 5 star rating for adult occupant protection
* 4 star rating for child occupant protection

Martorell, Spain, 28-05-2008 -- The new SEAT Ibiza received an excellent rating after the stringent crash tests organised by the prestigious Euro NCAP organisation – 5 stars in passenger protection, 4 stars in child safety and 3 stars in pedestrian protection. Officially released today, this result places the Spanish model in a privileged position, scoring it as one of the safest cars of its segment.

2008 SEAT Ibiza earns 5 stars from EuroNCAP

The 85 hp SEAT Ibiza 1.4 16V Reference was chosen for the tests. Since the equipment level is different in every country, Euro NCAP selects the unit with the minimum level of standard safety equipment for its testing.

Applying Innovative Technology In Cars

Martorell, 29-05-2008 -- Fewer road accidents, greater traffic efficiency and safer, more comfortable motoring are the objectives of the eCar Project jointly developed by the SEAT Technical Centre and Telefónica España through the application of Information and Communication Technologies in cars.

SEAT and Telefónica contribute towards improving road safety

5/28/2008 -- The new 2008 Citroën Berlingo has passed the EuroNCAP tests with flying colours, setting a new standard in the leisure activity vehicle segment. With its reinforced structure and top-level safety equipment, it scored four stars in adult protection, four in child protection and two in pedestrian protection, making it the perfect choice for safe family transport.

2008 Citroën Berlingo

These impressive scores are largely a result of the new Citroën Berlingo’s body structure, which has been thoroughly reinforced, particularly at the front and middle pillars. These changes provide the stiffness necessary for passenger protection while optimising impact absorption.

Chrysler and Dodge minivans earn Institute’s top rating, “Good” rating in front and side crash protection

Auburn Hills, Mich., May, 2008 - The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan earned “good” ratings, the highest ratings available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in both frontal offset and side crashworthiness tests.

2008 Chrysler Town & Country Limited

DEARBORN, Mich., May 21, 2008 – Ford Motor Company and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) will embark this fall on an international study of a more lifelike prototype abdominal insert for pediatric crash dummies.

Ford's Pediatric Crash Dummy: The prototype pediatric abdomen insert is similar in size and shape to that of a 6-year-old child and is made of multiple layers of liquid silicone that, when solidified, forms a tough silicone shell.

Pediatric crash dummies with the more lifelike abdomen will help in analyzing the risk of serious injury to children during car accidents. Independent studies show that children ages 4 to 8 are at higher risk for injuries to the spine and abdomen.

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- Despite a decade of gains in daytime seat belt use, research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that nighttime belt use continues to be much lower, particularly among young drivers.

The annual Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign, launched today by NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason, will focus on nighttime belt use when the odds of being killed in a motor vehicle crash are three times greater. The campaign runs from May 19 to June 1.

Diminutive two-seater earns top ratings for protecting people in front & side crashes

ARLINGTON, VA, May 14, 2008 — The Smart car is getting a lot of attention for its small size and style, and now it's earning impressive crash test ratings. In recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, the 2008 Smart Fortwo, the smallest car for sale in the US market, earned the top rating of good for front and side crash protection. Its seat/head restraints earned the second highest rating of acceptable for protection against whiplash in rear impacts.

Monday, May 12, 2008 - New research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found June through August to be the deadliest time of year for 15-passenger van occupants, due to rollover crashes. Statistics show that 31 percent of fatal rollovers involving 15-passenger vans occur during the busy summer travel months.

NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason is urging all 15-passenger van users to take appropriate safety precautions when taking to the road during this busy travel season.

“The last thing we want is a summer outing to turn into a tragic memory,” Nason said.

2009 Subaru Forester received the highest possible safety rating for both frontal and side-impact crash tests for all seating positions

CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 21, 2008 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the 2009 Subaru Forester earned the highest rating in the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash tests. The Subaru Forester received five stars in both the frontal and side-impact crash tests for all seating positions.

2009 Subaru Forester