Nissan Demonstrates Safety Benefits of Front and Side Air Bags
21 October 1998
Nissan Demonstrates Safety Benefits of Front and Side Air Bags at Office of Traffic Safety Summit Company Announces Aggressive Plans to Incorporate Side Air Bags in
All Vehicles
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 -- As one of the partners at the
California Office of Traffic Safety's Summit Oct. 19-22, Nissan North America,
Inc. is among the advocates helping spread the word on how to save lives and
reduce injuries caused by automotive crashes. One way Nissan demonstrated its
commitment to safety was through the display and "live deployment" of its air
bags, which have recently been designed to inflate with less force after the
federal government made it possible to do so.
One key innovation to be featured at the summit is the all new 1999
Infiniti G20's head and thorax supplemental restraint system (SRS) side-impact
air bag system. This system helps protect not only the chest area, but also
the head of the driver and front-seat passenger in certain side-impact
collisions. This new technology was also applied to the 1999 Infiniti Q45,
and will be phased in for use in all Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.
"Nissan has one of the most aggressive plans of all automakers to offer
side air bags in our entire U.S. lineup," said Bob Yakushi, Nissan North
America's Corporate Manager of Engineering Analysis. "Nissan has been
improving and expanding safety equipment based on its Triple Safety
concept -- comprising the areas of information, control and impact safety."
Beginning with the January 1999 production of the QX4, all new Infiniti
vehicles will be equipped with front-seat supplemental side-impact air bags as
standard equipment. Among Nissan Division vehicles, the Maxima has had front-
seat supplemental side impact air bags as optional equipment since the 1997
model year. The company plans to phase in availability in the remaining
passenger car models by early 2000. Beginning next year, optional front-seat
supplemental side-impact air bags will be phased in on Nissan light-duty
trucks and vans over a two-year period.
Side impact air bags add to an impressive list of standard or optional
safety equipment available on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. Depending on the
model, safety equipment available on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles includes:
driver and passenger supplemental air bags, anti-lock brakes, front seat belts
with pre-tensioners and upper adjustable seat belt anchors, steel side-door
guard beams, child safety rear door locks, and front and rear crumple zones.
Dedicated to protecting its customers, Nissan designs vehicles that help
drivers avoid collisions whenever possible and help protect occupants in the
event of a collision. "Safety is a high priority at Nissan," Yakushi said.
"We know that the best engineered, environmentally friendly, high-tech
vehicles are only as good as they are safe. Nissan vehicles meet or surpass
all current federal safety regulations with a combination of occupant
protection features and crash avoidance technologies."
Nissan is dedicated to continuous research aimed at making vehicles safer
in order to protect occupants. Simply stated, safety is a designed-in feature
of every Nissan vehicle.
Furthermore, Nissan's What to Expect Guide to Car Seat Safety is part of
an overall "Quest for Safety" public service campaign the company is launching
to provide the general public -- not just our owners -- with simple,
step-by-step instructions on how to choose, properly install and use child
safety seats. In addition, Nissan designed its "Enjoy the Ride Safely"
program to educate the public on the importance of safety belts and child
safety seats. Similarly, its Teen Cruise Control program educates teen
drivers on proper driving and handling techniques. Other awareness
initiatives include working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to combat
driving while under the influence.
Nissan has invested more than $2 billion in the United States to build
facilities for design, research and development, manufacturing, sales and
related operations. Nearly seventy percent of the Nissan trucks and cars sold
in America are built in America. Additionally, Nissan purchases over $4.2
billion in parts and materials from U.S. suppliers.
Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in the United
States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs through more
than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti retailers across the continent. More
information about Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and
Infiniti vehicles can be found on-line at http://www.nissan-na.com and
http://www.nissan-usa.com.
