ABI Research: Automotive Safety the Next Major Battleground for Automakers

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.--April 21, 2005--According to findings from international market research firm ABI Research, a new war among automakers is on the verge of breaking out. The main focus of this battle will be centered on safety as the key differentiator for vehicle lines.

"There are a host of cutting-edge safety systems in varying stages of development that will alter the consumer's perception of what makes for a safe vehicle," notes ABI Research Senior Automotive Analyst, Robert LaGuerra. "What is interesting is that automakers disagree about how they define a safe vehicle."

LaGuerra adds that automakers are tackling the issue of safety from varying perspectives. From electronic stability control (ESC), adaptive cruise control and telematics systems, to blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, driver monitoring, and pedestrian-based safety systems, all will be used in some combination to make for a safer vehicle.

Automakers such as Honda and Mercedes are among the first to introduce systems promoting pedestrian safety, while GM may be the first automaker to introduce both ESC and reactionary safety systems such as OnStar as standard equipment across all its North American models.

ABI Research's series of automotive safety studies is the most comprehensive offering available. Each of the studies -- "Vehicle Safety Systems", "Automotive Radar/Lidar Systems", "Driver Monitoring Systems", "Automotive-Based Pedestrian Safety Systems" and "Automotive Electronics Systems" -- covers the industry from a unique perspective and is designed to give all industry players a deep understanding of the critical issues and market trends.

ABI Research cautions that there are still issues to be overcome, including high systems costs, the ability to have on-board safety systems communicate with each other, decisions about how much control should be taken away from the driver in an emergency, plus software and processor limitations in assessing an emergency situation on a real-time basis. ABI Research suggests that further systems integration will not only enhance the level of safety, but help reduce overall system costs.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in automotive, semiconductors, wireless, broadband, and energy. For more information please visit www.abiresearch.com, or call 516.624.2500.