2005 NADA: ONSTAR, STABILITRAK SET FOR ALL GM VEHICLES

January 30, 2005—AutoExec Magazine reported that OnStar and StabiliTrak will be standard equipment on all GM retail vehicles, executives told dealers at the GM franchise meeting today. The rollout starts this year and will be completed in 2010. The first year of OnStar safety and security service is included on all vehicles with the service.

“We have rarely seen a technology that brings such a positive safety benefit as electronic stability control,” said GM North American president Gary Cowger at a press conference. StabiliTrak is standard on many GM full-size sport-utilities and will expand to midsize SUVs this year. Other SUVs and vans will have it by 2007. Antilock brakes and traction control also will be included.

Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), came to the dealer meeting to commend GM for the move. He said 70 percent of fatal single-car crashes are caused by the car leaving the road. NHTSA's study found that stability systems cut risk in single-car crashes by 67 percent. “I’m a believer that safety sells in the marketplace,” Runge said.