Anti-Lock Brake Systems For Medium Duty Trucks

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 20 -- Continental Teves anti-lock brake systems (ABS) are rolling off the production line for General Motors medium duty trucks.

Called the MK50, the unit uses the very latest in automotive electronics technology and is designed specifically for the growing medium duty truck market (Class 4 - 7 trucks with GVW of 14,000 to 33,000). It is the first ABS on the market with traction control for commercial-sized, hydraulic brake trucks. The system also includes Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), which optimizes the amount of brake force at the rear wheels over a wide range of loads and side-to-side load offset.

First application of the MK50 is on the 2003 GMC and Chevrolet C-Series medium duty trucks with hydraulic brakes and single axles.

``General Motors and other medium-duty truck manufacturers the world over are looking for advanced braking solutions that provide greater safety and control when operating in less than ideal surface conditions,'' said Joseph E. Gaus, corporate vice president, EBS Business Unit. ``With the MK50, we have a proven system with all the benefits of ABS including traction control.''

The MK50 adds to Continental's portfolio of ABS systems for passenger car and light truck markets worldwide. In 1995 the company introduced the high- performance MK20 ABS, an improved, compact modular system that allows extension to several brake and stability functions. In 2000 Continental introduced the MK60, the world's lightest electronic brake system for passenger cars. Together, these three systems, MK20, MK50 and MK60, span the total range of passenger cars, and light and medium duty trucks.

The MK50 ABS units are manufactured in a clean room environment at Continental Teves' award-winning facility in Morganton, NC. The facility has been widely lauded for its adherence to lean principles in many of its manufacturing and administrative processes. In 2000, Morganton earned the distinction of being named one of the 10 best manufacturing plants in North America by IndustryWeek magazine.

Continental Teves, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main Germany, is a unit of Continental AG, Hanover, Germany. With 2000 sales of $9.3 billion (US), Continental is a world leader in the design, development and supply of critical brake and chassis systems that contribute to driving safety and comfort. Continental Teves' North American component is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. For additional information visit these websites: www.conti-online.com and www.contitevesna.com .