|
FOR RELEASE: May 13, 2003 CONTACT(S):
General Motors Will Equip 2004 Model Year 15-Passenger Vans With Vehicle Stability Enhancement System StabiliTrak Helps Drivers Maintain Vehicle Control During Demanding Conditions
Warren, Mich. - General Motors will begin installing vehicle stability enhancement systems in GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express 15-passenger vans during the 2004 model year production cycle. "By adding this system, we will take what we believe is already a very safe vehicle and make it even better," said Ray Chess, GM vehicle line executive, commercial trucks and vans. "This enhancement underscores GM's leadership in bringing this important safety technology to more customers than any of its competitors." The system will be standard on all 15-passenger vans. It will be incorporated as an interim change during the 2004 production year, which begins later this summer. Vehicle stability enhancement systems (VSES) help drivers maintain control of vehicles during certain difficult driving conditions such as ice, snow, gravel, wet pavement and uneven road surfaces; as well as in emergency lane changes or avoidance maneuvers. GM offers the system across its many models with the names StabiliTrak, Precision Control and Active Traction. The 15-passenger vans will be badged StabiliTrak. VSES works by recognizing wheel skid. Sensors detect the difference between the steering wheel angle and the direction the driver is actually turning by "reading" the steering wheel position, the amount of sideways force in play, vehicle speed and the vehicle's response to steering wheel input. The system then uses the brakes to enhance control of the vehicle's direction and to help keep it on course. It automatically reduces the engine torque and applies precise amounts of pressure to front right or left brakes to help keep the vehicle on track. These brake and engine interventions help realign the vehicle's actual path with that being steered by the driver. GM began installing VSES in passenger cars in 1997, and now has more than 2 million equipped vehicles on the road. GM was the first automaker to install VSES in full-size SUVs (Cadillac Escalade), in 2002, and the following year added it in the Escalade EXT; GMC Yukon, Yukon Denali and Yukon XL; and Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche. "While vehicle stability enhancement systems do not directly prevent rollover crashes, they may help drivers avoid the conditions that cause them," said Robert C. Lange, GM executive director, structure and safety integration. "However, it is important to understand that no system is foolproof. That is why we will continue to educate our customers on the unique operating characteristics of full-size, extended passenger vans and that they should be operated only by experienced drivers," said Lange. "We also support the advice of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that drivers and passengers in vans -- and all other vehicles -- always use safety belts. And we remind all vehicle occupants to obey state seat belt use and child passenger safety laws." Chess said GM will continue to produce the Savana and Express 15-passenger vans with a 155-inch wheelbase, the longest in the 15-passenger van segment. The longer wheelbase and other chassis design features help improve handling characteristics that allow the driver more control under various road conditions. Other standard crash-avoidance features include four-wheel antilock brakes for directional stability in emergency braking situations and daytime running lamps for improved visibility. Safety belts, driver and front passenger air bags, front and rear crush zones and side-door beams are standard features designed to help protect occupants in the event of a crash. For more information on GM's vehicle safety leadership, please visit www.gmability.com. General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs 342,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries. In 2002, GM sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com.
|