Global Auto Safety Research Verifies Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Saves Lives

- Five Studies Project 30-35% Reduction in Single Vehicle Crashes -

DETROIT, June 3 -- A global body of new research data from the world's top auto manufacturing countries confirms the effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a revolutionary active safety technology. The studies corroborate efforts by the ESC Coalition and leading automotive safety experts to educate consumers on the benefits of ESC systems and the impact this technology has on improving the overall safety of passenger cars and light trucks.

The five international studies from Mercedes and DEKRA Automotive Research in Germany; the Swedish National Road Administration, the European Accident Causation; and Toyota in Japan, provide significant data supporting the claims that ESC can prevent crashes and help save thousands of lives. Despite ESC's reported effectiveness, only six percent of vehicles on the road in the United States are equipped with it. The ESC Coalition is encouraged that these revealing finds will help underscore the importance of ESC, especially to U.S. consumers, legislators and other industry decision makers.

The ESC Coalition's educational campaign urges consumers to request this active safety technology -- which augments the passive restraints (air bags and seat belts) -- when purchasing a new vehicle.

"During my 20-year tenure with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we were able to help drivers adopt life saving mechanisms such as seatbelts and airbags," said Adele Derby, former Associate Administrator of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a current member of the ESC Coalition's Advisory Panel. "ESC, with its remarkable capability to help prevent car crashes, is yet another life saving technology that consumers must consider when buying a new vehicle."

Extrapolating the data from these independent studies and applying it to the U.S. leads to the revelation that ESC would save between 5,000-8,500 lives annually. The details and implications of each finding are highlighted below:

   * Mercedes data indicates that the installation of ESC as standard
     equipment on all of its vehicles has resulted in a 29 percent reduction
     in single-vehicle crashes and 15 percent fewer crashes overall.  Based
     on these figures, the widespread installation of ESC in the United
     States could save as many as 5,000 lives and nearly $35 billion in
     economic losses annually.  This study, which implements German
     government data, is especially significant because all new Mercedes
     vehicles are equipped with ESC as standard equipment.

   * DEKRA Automotive Research in Germany indicates a 27 percent reduction
     in serious loss-of-control crashes.  It also reports that 37 percent of
     corner accidents are definitively influenced by ESC, confirming the
     Mercedes findings.

   * The European Accident Causation survey, conducted throughout Europe,
     shows that ESC had a positive influence on the total number of loss-of-
     control accidents.

   * Similarly, the Swedish National Road Administration study shows that
     ESC was found to reduce accidents with personal injuries.  It goes on
     to recommend the implementation of ESC in new cars as quickly as
     possible and also advises consumers to choose vehicles with ESC,
     especially in countries with wet and icy roads.

   * A study by Toyota in Japan reports that vehicles with ESC showed a 35
     percent reduction of single-vehicle crashes, which could save an
     estimated 6,000 lives annually in the United States, and a 30 percent
     reduction of head-on crashes, saving another 2,500 lives.  The study
     also confirms Mercedes' conclusion that ESC is more effective in higher
     speed ranges when vehicle dynamics play a greater role and when the
     crashes that occur are more severe.

Formed in 2003, the ESC Coalition was established to inform consumers and other key audiences about the benefits of ESC systems. It is a joint effort of two of the largest automotive technology suppliers, Robert Bosch Corporation and Continental Teves. As leaders in the development and manufacture of automotive safety technology, both companies are working together to increase the general awareness of this potentially life saving technology.

ESC Coalition Mission Statement

The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Coalition was formed in 2003 with the mission of educating consumers and other key audiences about the revolutionary active safety technology known as ESC. The ESC Coalition members believe that the widespread installation of ESC systems can play a significant role in helping to prevent crashes on America's roads. The Coalition seeks to increase the public's general awareness of this milestone in automotive safety. Through a national education campaign, the ESC Coalition aims to provide consumers with comprehensive information on ESC, including educational materials, technical data, video demonstrations, industry studies, and news about ESC.

For additional information on the ESC Coalition, please visit www.esccoalition.com.