Automakers Adopt Stability Control Technology

DETROIT, Jan. 7 -- To some people, ``spin control'' means making the best of bad news.

To auto engineers, however, spin control means making the best of bad driving situations, which is why stability control systems are among the fastest growing features in new cars and trucks.

The driving stability system known as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is on constant standby to assist drivers as critical situations arise in the twists and turns of driving. It is an interactive safety system that significantly improves vehicle stability in all three areas of vehicle performance: accelerating, cornering and braking. It can help avoid potential accidents, and helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles even in critical situations.

ESP, through electrical sensors strategically placed throughout the vehicle, analyzes steering wheel activity, wheel speeds, acceleration and the vehicles rotation about its vertical axis (called yaw) and continually analyzes this data to determine whether the actual course of the vehicle corresponds to the desired direction. If this is not the case, by braking individual wheels, ESP corrects understeer and oversteer, and helps keep vehicles on the road.

In the words of one automotive journalist, ``It is like having God as your co-pilot.''

Introduced in the late 1990s, stability systems were first applied to premium brands as an added safety feature, much like anti-lock brakes were once the reserve of luxury marques.

``ESP was not designed for luxury or high performance cars alone,'' states Bill Kozyra, President, Continental Teves N.A. ``It's meant to enhance driveability and safety, which makes it ideal for all vehicles, including vans and SUVs.''

In fact, experts predict that SUVs will adopt ESP even faster than cars because it adds an extra measure of safety by keeping the vehicle pointed in the direction the driver is steering. Crashes can occur when a vehicle skids or slides sideways and is tripped. ESP helps the driver keep the vehicle on the road and pointed in the intended direction.

The technology has grabbed the attention of the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to one safety regulator in the agency, ``What makes Electronic Stability Control promising is the possibility that with its aid, many drivers will avoid running off the road and having a single vehicle crash in the first place.''

As ESP became more popular, more mainstream vehicles began offering the system as an option. Currently, the Ford Focus is the least expensive car consumers can purchase with the system.

Continental Teves supplied 1.4 million ESP systems to automakers in 2000, expects to sell about 2.8 million this year and has orders for about 3.4 million units from automakers for 2003, a remarkable increase. Says Kozyra, ``Consumers tell us that they want these systems to be standard equipment. They shouldn't have to mark box 'x' when they order a car or truck to be as safe as possible. Airbags were once an option, too.''

Vehicles that offer the technology today in North America include: the aforementioned Ford Focus; all Volvo models; all BMW models; all Audi models, the VW Bug and Eurovan; the Toyota Sequoia; all Jaguar models; the Lincoln LS sedan and all Mercedes-Benz models. But many analysts are expecting that many of the models unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to offer the technology as customers continue to demand technologies that enhance safety and security.

Continental Teves, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main Germany, is a unit of Continental AG, Hanover, Germany. With 2001 sales of approximately $9.9 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.