Continental Showcases Total Vehicle Safety and ESC Technologies at Lifesavers Conference 2005

Active safety technologies demonstration highlights Continental's innovative approach to 'Total Vehicle Safety'

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 13 -- Continental Automotive Systems continues to build on the momentum of more than a decade of work that has driven its considerable success with electronic stability control (ESC) systems. The company will showcase industry-leading safety systems, as well as its total vehicle safety system approach, at the Lifesavers Conference 2005 in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 13 - 15.

Bill Kozyra, President and CEO, Continental Automotive Systems North America, will be a featured speaker and participant in the workshop on Emerging Vehicle Safety Technologies, on Monday, March 14, from 9:30 a.m., to 11:00 a.m., in room 209 A-B. The company will also feature information on a range of advanced safety technologies at its booth (#222) in the convention center.

Additionally, Continental's "Safely There" mobile automotive safety exhibit is located at the convention center. It features displays of the company's core safety technologies including the Active Rollover Protection System (ARP), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), and a simulator that demonstrates ESC.

Continental is also promoting the "Be smart, play your part" tire safety campaign, which actively encourages drivers to maintain their tires properly in order to achieve longer and safer tire life.

Continental's approach to total vehicle safety and ESC "ride and drive" demonstrations provide hands-on integrated systems experience

Continental's most exciting display will be the hands-on, ride and drive opportunities featuring a total vehicle safety concept and ESC safety technology demonstrator vehicles. Participants will be able to experience Continental's ESC and the advantages of integrating active and passive safety systems into a total approach to vehicle safety. Participants will see for themselves just how effectively these systems function in real-world driving situations.

Continental's active-passive integration approach features networked active and passive safety systems, and integrated sensors. The system actively monitors the traffic environment, and on detecting the likelihood of an impending crash, initiates a staged hazard response. The test course will allow drivers to experience three real-world driving scenarios that call for escalating responses that effectively give a sense of the total system capability.

Similarly, the ESC-equipped vehicle allows drivers to feel the system's response to different stability risks encountered during the ride and drive demonstration. These systems are available on vehicles today and already garnering praise for their effectiveness in preventing accidents. Within the last year, both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced strikingly similar results from studies they performed independently. NHTSA reported that ESC was responsible for reducing single vehicle crashes in passenger cars by 35 percent and in SUVs by 67 percent. Shortly afterward, the IIHS announced results of its study concluding that ESC reduced single vehicle crashes by about 56 percent.

ESC market acceptance rate is expected to continue growth

Applications of ESC are growing and Continental expects 50 percent of new vehicles in North America to be equipped with ESC by 2008. ESC is available on more than 150 vehicle models today, and some relatively recent announcements by manufacturers demonstrate growing awareness of the safety benefits ESC provides, as well as its increasing market acceptance. DaimlerChrysler recently announced that ESC would be standard on its Grand Cherokee SUV, Ford announced it will make ESC standard on full-size SUVs and GM announced it will make ESC standard on all vehicles by 2010.

With 2003 sales of approximately $13 billion (US), Continental AG is a major supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical rubber products. Continental Automotive Systems' North American operation is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich. and is a leading global supplier of quality automotive systems that contribute to driver safety, comfort and peace-of-mind. For additional information, visit these websites: http://www.conti-online.com/ and http://www.contitevesna.com/.