Jonathan Fry: October 2005

Life-saving Innovation Celebrates Milestone Anniversary

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It is now 25 years since the first production car to be fitted with an airbag, an S-Class Saloon, rolled off the production line at Mercedes‑Benz in Sindelfingen – the culmination of over 13 years of development work and the beginning of a new era in vehicle safety. According to accident research, the airbag has saved over 14,200 human lives in the USA to date; in Germany, meanwhile, the airbag has prevented over 2,500 fatal injuries to car occupants since 1990.

Mercedes-Benz offered the airbag long before any other car manufacturer and has so far equipped more than 12 million vehicles with this safety innovation. It has been fitted as standard in all passenger cars displaying the Mercedes star since October 1992. In recent years, Mercedes engineers have continued to develop airbag technology, for example by introducing side airbags and systems that adapt in line with the severity of the accident.

Airbags are also set to become an integral part of the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system, equipped with new, anticipatory sensors which will enable them to deploy in advance of a possible accident so as to reduce the forces exerted on the car occupants both before and during any impact. For the same reasons, the airbags of the future will also take into account individual parameters such as the body size, sex and age of the occupants.

The airbag is very much a part of Mercedes history. Like the crumple zone, safety steering system, seatbelt tensioner, anti-lock braking system and other Mercedes inventions, it is a testament to the pioneering role played by the Stuttgart-based manufacturer in the field of passenger car safety.

The development of the airbag began in 1967 and required pioneering achievements in numerous fields. Although the idea for an air cushion of this kind had been around since the early fifties, engineers had been unable to come up with a solution to transform the vision into reality. However, the Mercedes team had made great progress with a discriminating sensor system and a gas generator capable of deploying the airbag in just 30 milliseconds. They also developed the tear-resistant airbag fabric, improved the airbag's inflation characteristics and finally made it possible to house the entire system in the impact-absorbing boss of a steering wheel.

After more than 250 vehicle crash tests, 2,500 sled tests and over seven million kilometres of trials in test cars, the airbag was finally ready for production in December 1980 when it celebrated its world premiere together with another innovation, the seatbelt tensioner, in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. As early as 1991, some 28 percent of all Mercedes passenger cars were equipped with a driver's airbag. And it has been fitted as standard in all cars displaying the Mercedes star since October 1992.

US statistics: airbags have saved over 14,200 human lives since 1987

Right from the start, Mercedes-Benz had designed the airbag to supplement the three-point seatbelt whose primary function was to provide additional protection in the event of a frontal impact. Accident research results confirm the wisdom of this approach: back in the seventies, around 30 percent of Mercedes car drivers wearing seatbelts involved in very severe frontal collisions suffered life-threatening injuries; however Mercedes experts can confirm that serious injury rates of this magnitude are firmly a thing of the past thanks to the excellent interaction between the airbag, seatbelt, belt tensioner and other protection measures.

If these Mercedes accident research results are projected to take into account all passenger cars, it emerges that the airbag has helped to save over 2,500 human lives in Germany alone since 1990.

The American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has calculated that airbags protect one in every three car occupants against serious injury in an accident. Furthermore, around one in six drivers and front passengers involved in road accidents owe their lives to airbags. Since 1987, the airbag has saved the lives of over 14,200 car occupants in the USA.

Mercedes innovations: sidebags and windowbags for supplementary protection

The Mercedes engineers built on their big lead in the airbag development stakes and continued to further improve the system. The world premiere of the driver's airbag was followed by the launch of the front-passenger airbag in 1988 and, in 1995, the introduction of one of the first side airbags for passenger cars. The latter has been supplemented by the windowbag since 1998. This was also the year in which Mercedes-Benz introduced adaptive airbags that deploy in two stages, depending on the severity of the accident, thus providing even more effective occupant protection.

In addition, the PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system – unveiled by Mercedes-Benz in 2002 and still not available in this form from any other car manufacturer – further enhances the protective effect of the seatbelt and the airbag. Advance tensioning of the front seatbelts and repositioning of the seats ahead of a potential accident prepare the occupants for a possible collision, meaning that the seatbelts and airbags offer the highest possible level of protection when activated.

State-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz passenger cars like the new S-Class are equipped with a total of eight airbags: two adaptive front airbags, four sidebags and two windowbags. As well as being able to test itself, the airbag technology is maintenance-free and remains functional for the entire lifetime of the Mercedes‑Benz passenger car.

Vision for the future: an airbag that is triggered before impact

Airbags will continue to play an important role in passenger car safety in years to come. Mercedes engineers are looking into the possibility of a protective system that automatically adapts itself to take into account the current accident situation and the car occupants. Sophisticated radar technology of the kind recently introduced in the new S-Class could help in this respect. If developed a stage further, this radar technology and other anticipatory sensors could provide the data needed to calculate the severity of an unavoidable accident before actual impact. Airbags could then become an integral part of the PRE-SAFE® system, deploying before impact in several slower stages and with a greater volume of air in order to protect the occupants for a longer period of time.

Another priority for the airbags of tomorrow is to provide even more personalised protection. By way of example, it should be possible to program the on-board computer with information such as the age, sex and biometric data (e.g. body size and weight) of the occupants in order to tailor the protection system to individual requirements.

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Subaru Launches Police Sales Assault

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Symmetrical all-wheel drive specialist, Subaru, has launched a serious assault on the police car market targeting both unmarked and high-visibility liveried use.

Already favoured by several forces, the iconic Impreza will be joined by the sporting executive Legacy and crossover Forester in a three-pronged attack.

This follows Subaru winning approval as an official supplier by the Police Information Technology Organisation.

In addition, the first decaled demonstration Forester has just hit the highways complete with all the equipment required for the official police-spec 'Utility 4x4' category.

Acknowledging the importance of this initiative, Subaru has appointed specialist motor services outsource, Landar Ltd, to establish a Police Sales Unit.

Headed by Programme Manager, Lance Jenkins, this will provide dedicated sales and operational support.

This unit has already received orders for a number of unmarked Imprezas and Legacys by various constabularies and Lance has now begun a charm offensive on fleet managers from more than 40 police forces throughout the UK.

He said: "The performance, agility and reliability of the Impreza is already well known by many forces but few appreciate how ideal the Forester is for rural use and as an all-terrain multi-function vehicle.

"The Legacy is also very attractive as a low-profile ‘stealth’ car where covert surveillance and eventual pursuit is required. It will be my job to get the Subaru on more shopping lists and to raise its profile among the constabularies."

Subaru's Police Sales unit will also offer interested forces extended vehicle loans for up to six months under a new 'try and buy' programme.

While the entire Subaru range is available for police demonstration, the new-look '06 Forester 2.5 XT is the first liveried vehicle to begin trials.

It features a 230 PS turbocharged engine which is good for a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds yet has a 200 mm-plus ground clearance and full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive, making it a formidable pursuit vehicle should villains decide to leave the highway.

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Active Safety is a Mystery to Most

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The results of an SMMT survey released today (31 October) showed that most people are not familiar with the latest safety technologies fitted to new cars.

The survey, which sampled 110 people in central London, showed that:

58 per cent of those asked could not name any active safety systems in a modern car.
Only 29 per cent named ABS, even though this is now standard on all new cars.
Just five per cent of drivers knew about ESP (electronic stability programme).
Six per cent of people were unable to name any active or passive safety feature.

Active safety systems are technologies that prevent accidents from happening; passive safety limits the effect of an accident on vehicle occupants or pedestrians.

(Click on the photo to enlarge. High resolution versions are available)

Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive said, 'Many of the latest technologies are becoming more common in new cars. What this survey shows is that most people are not aware of the many basic safety systems fitted to modern cars, let alone the investment in the latest active safety systems which are helping to drive down injuries and deaths on the roads.'

Other findings of the SMMT survey include:

Additional safety features mentioned by respondents were roll bars by eight per cent, and four per cent said reverse cameras or parking sensors.
92 per cent could name an example of a passive technology, with 47 per cent saying airbags and 36 per cent seatbelts.

To raise awareness, SMMT and RoadSafe are running a campaign to demonstrate the latest in safety technology as well as the dangers of driving at night.

(Click on the photo to enlarge. High resolution versions are available)

Figures released by the Department for Transport last month show that road casualties have fallen significantly over the last 10 years. Improved car design has played a significant part in the reduction of casualties, as will better driver education, improved road design and better measures to prevent poor driving behaviour.

Source:
http://www.dft.gov.uk

Notes:

The survey of 110 people in central London, was undertaken by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
75 per cent of those questioned said they were drivers.
Since July 2004, all new volume production cars in the UK are now fitted with ABS – Anti-lock Braking System

SMMT and RoadSafe are holding a 'Driving in winter' event on the evening of Monday 31 October. Timed to coincide with the clocks turning back, the event will display the latest in vehicle and road safety technology including practical demonstrations.

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Volvo Cuts Danger of Blind Spots with BLIS

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Volvo is first to offer car drivers a high-tech solution to help avoid the risk of accidents caused by blind spots with its new safety system - BLIS (Blind Spot Information System).

Volvo's latest safety innovation uses an intelligent digital camera system incorporated into both door mirrors that constantly monitors the area alongside the car for cars or motorbikes, then alerts the driver via an orange light housed in the car's A-pillar by the door mirror. BLIS also works after dark, when it will react to the headlamps of any surrounding vehicles.

As Britain's roads get ever busier, Volvo believes the additional visual information BLIS relays to the driver before changing lanes or overtaking in busy urban environments or on multi-lane highways, will prove particularly useful.

The BLIS system does not relieve the driver of his or her obligation and responsibility to do the usual visual checks before attempting any manoeuvring, but does afford frequent motorway users or city drivers an added level of protection against vehicles hovering in the periphery of the driver's field of vision.

While a dash mounted button can be used to temporarily switch the safety aid off, if required, BLIS is capable of making the distinction between mobile and immobile objects such as parked cars, road barriers, lampposts and other static objects, ensuring all alerts are limited to potentially hazardous moving obstacles.

"Preventing accidents and reducing the number of injuries and fatalities in traffic are both high on the agenda of an increasing number of countries. We see everything from so-called zero-limits in Sweden and the Netherlands to national goals of between 30 and 50 percent fewer accidents over the coming 10 year period. As a leading company in the field of car safety, Volvo must naturally play an active part in working toward these goals," says Ingrid Skogsmo, Director Volvo Cars Safety.

Volvo first demonstrated a BLIS system on its Safety Concept Car in 2001, and BLIS is one of many safety innovations shown on that car that have become a reality on today's Volvo range. BLIS is already available as an option on the XC90 and is expected to be introduced to the rest of the Volvo range next year.

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Advanced Telematics to Aid Safety and Security

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'Volvo On Call' is an optional communications package available across the Volvo range that includes valuable personal safety and security features to Volvo customers in need of assistance, 24 hours a day, almost anywhere in the UK. Whether involved in an accident, vehicle breakdown or theft, Volvo On Call uses the latest telematics technology to ensure help is always close at hand and immediately dispatched.

Working off an integrated GSM telephone with a built-in GPS unit for satellite navigation, the Volvo On Call system, with a built-in backup antenna, has been fully crash tested in the Volvo Safety Centre and designed to withstand immense crash force, yet still be fully functional. With the extra backup battery, Volvo On Call can still be used even if the car's standard power supply is disabled.

Safety

One of the key features that Volvo On Call offers as standard is added personal safety (and convenience). Using its own SIM card buried deep in the vehicle, Volvo On Call is one of the only systems of its kind linked directly to BT 999, so that if it detects an airbag being triggered in an accident it will automatically notify Emergency Services of the incident - and the vehicle's exact location. This function can also be operated manually, if required, by pushing a red dash-mounted 'SOS' button which puts you straight through to the Emergency Services.

Volvo On Call also helps if the vehicle develops a fault or assistance if needed. A second button marked 'On Call' on the integrated phone in the car's dashboard contacts the Volvo On Call customer service centre, operated by Mondial the worldwide assistance providers, where staff are on hand 24 hours a day to request road side assistance and guide them to the car's precise location. Volvo will also be able to offer further concierge services and convenience features via this facility.

Security

Reaffirming Volvo's recent achievement at the British Insurance Car Security Awards (BISCA), where for the second year running it won 'Best Manufacturer', Volvo On Call also offers optional security features, such as being able to remotely unlock the car, or track it if the car is stolen.

Using advanced telematics, the Volvo On Call customer service centre can communicate directly with the car to provide information such as the vehicle's speed, amount of fuel left in the tank, location, and whether it is being driven or moving on a transporter. The system can also unlock or lock the car remotely at an agreed time (once certain personal security information is provided correctly) if your keys are lost or misplaced.

If the car's alarm is triggered, the Volvo On Call service centre will try to contact the owner or driver, and if certain security questions are not answered satisfactorily, the police will be called.

Similarly, if the car is stolen, once the owner notifies the Volvo On Call customer service centre, the car will automatically be tracked, and all the information available will be passed on to the police.

Real-life example

For one grateful Volvo dealership in Doncaster, Volvo On Call, has already proven itself a worthy asset.

When thieves stole the keys to a Volvo S60 D5 SE and drove the vehicle away from Riverside Motors in Doncaster, little did they realise that the S60 was equipped with Volvo On Call and that their every movement was trackable.

In this example, once Volvo On Call operators had been alerted to the theft, they were able to activate the on board tracking device and lead Police to the car's precise location. The unscathed vehicle was successfully traced and recovered within 20 minutes of being reported missing.

"While we were obviously rattled by the theft, we were all impressed by how quickly and efficiently the car was tracked and located. As soon as we discovered the vehicle had been stolen and that it was equipped with Volvo On Call, we immediately contacted the service centre. 20 minutes later and we got the news that the vehicle had been recovered. Obviously we were delighted," said Steven Starkey, Manager of the Volvo dealership in Doncaster.

Steven added, "The benefits of On Call really hit home with us as we were able to see the success of the system first hand. We really feel strongly that for any customer seeking optimum safety and security, Volvo On Call offers the best possible solution."

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Dark Danger

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The number of people killed on Great Britain's roads has seen a dramatic rise between October and November for the second year running.

(Photo - Stuart Yeates)

The continuing increase in fatalities between the two months, revealed in the recently published Government bible of road safety statistics, Road Casualties Great Britain 2004*, has prompted the RAC Foundation to appeal to Government, local authorities and drivers to play their part in slashing the death toll.

German Government statistics** also indicate that the number of accidents per km driven more than doubles during the hours of darkness - showing that this is not just a phenomenon in the UK.

Following the end of British Summer Time on October 30, millions of people will travel home from work in the dark for the first time in seven months and many of them will be ill prepared.

While huge investment in research and development by lighting manufacturers means that lights on modern vehicles are more effective and efficient than ever, they are useless if drivers don't use them, check them and maintain them. In 2004, over one million cars and 12,500 motor cycles, failed the annual MoT test because of lighting defects.***

Common complaints include:

Unlit vehicles - especially pedal cycles, usually in urban and sub-urban areas
Vehicles with side or headlamps not working, making it more difficult to see, or judge the width of the vehicle, especially on unlit rural roads
Vehicles with badly adjusted headlamps that dazzle oncoming drivers, or whose poor lighting means that drivers need to use main beam headlamps
Vehicles with rear fog lamps lit in good visibility and which dazzle following drivers

The RAC Foundation believes that a few simple steps by all who use, or are responsible, for the roads could make the UK roads much safer during the coming months. Committed to raising the profile of this topic, it is making lighting the issue of the month on its website www.racfoundation.org. Drivers can help the Foundation build a better understanding of motorists' opinions and behaviour by taking part in an on-line poll on the subject while getting more advice.

As well as drivers, however, the Foundation is urging local authorities to ensure that all street lighting is of a good standard and that roads and pavements are well maintained with no potholes or raised paving stones to endanger pedestrians and two-wheeled traffic during the long hours of darkness.

Central Government should also consider further research into the road user safety potential of daylight running lights, and, if safety benefits are proven, initiate discussions with vehicle manufacturers about incorporating the technology onto all vehicles.

Manufacturers, UK Government and the European commission should continue to explore the development and use of "smart" vehicle lighting that can adapt brightness according to road and weather conditions, automatically dip for oncoming traffic and interact with indicators.

Cyclists can also play their part by fitting, checking and using lights and wearing clothing that will increase their conspicuity in the dark and wet - while pedestrians should be sure that they can see and be seen by traffic, especially when crossing roads.

This is also a good time for parents to ensure that their children have high visibility clothing or markers on bags and that they are well drilled about potential dangers while walking.

Edmund King, Executive Director of RAC Foundation said, "It is impossible to overestimate the importance of good lighting during the hours of darkness. The many advances in road and vehicle safety are of no value, unless drivers can see where they are going and other road users can see the vehicle properly."

The RAC Foundation has a four-point plan to see and be seen this winter.

Check that lights are working properly. A check of all lights takes no more than two minutes.
Replace any faulty lights
Standard [halogen] headlamp bulbs lose their brightness over time and should be replaced at three yearly [700 hours usage] intervals with good quality branded replacements. [Auto Express publishes headlamp tests and recommendations each year]
If buying a new car, consider specifying xenon [bi-polar] headlamps. The increased cost will be more than offset by improvements in driver vision and durability, typically three or four times the life of standard halogen lights.

Web Site:
RAC Web Site

Research Material:
*Road Casualties GB 2003 showed figures of 256 fatalities in October and 300 in November. In 2004 there were 256 fatalities in October and 316 in November.

** BASt (Federal Highway Research Institute, Germany )

*** Transport Statistics GB 2004

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Darling Introduces Mobility Tax by the Back Door

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In a speech to the Institute of Public Policy Research today, Alistair Darling admitted the Department for Transport is already well-ahead with plans for the introduction of road user charging using private companies.

The seminar hosted by the IPPR was sponsored by Norwich Union, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and T-Systems, an international IT provider and part of Deutsche Telecom.

Plans for satellite road user charging inevitably raise Big Brother concerns, centred as the scheme is around satellite-controlled black boxes fitted to vehicles. These black boxes will know the vehicle's location, how fast it is travelling and on which roads. All this data will be recorded and used by private companies to charge drivers a tax for their mileage, based on where and when they travel, potentially with a commission for the work done.

ABD Spokesman Mark McArthur-Christie commented "It seems that Mr Darling is determined to press ahead with his Big Brother mobility tax no matter what. He realises what a potential vote-loser this is, and is now using private firms to front, develop and manage the scheme for him."

The ABD's Chairman Brian Gregory comments "This scheme has phenomenal implications for people's civil liberties. Private companies and the government will know exactly where they are every hour of the day and charge them for it. Of course, the in-car black boxes also open the door to instant speeding tickets and penalties for almost any other offence that can be dreamed up."

The ABD believes that the introduction of this mobility tax is mistaken, but not simply because of the implications for civil liberties. Demand for travel is inelastic - people need to travel for work, to commute, to see friends and families. This tax is based on the whole premise that people are able to change their travelling behaviour. Although there is potential for some commuters to switch to cycling and powered two wheelers for some trips, public transport is, in the government's own words unreliable, expensive and does not go where people want. The majority of travellers will simply have no choice but to pay up.

McArthur-Christie concludes "We are extremely concerned about any tax that involves satellite and computer technology spying on citizens. When unelected and unaccountable private companies are involved, our concern grows still further. We urge Mr Darling to reconsider."

Web Site:
For more information about the ABD visit their Website at http://www.abd.org.uk

The Association of British Drivers is run on a voluntary basis to lobby for the beleaguered British motorist:
"Reclaiming the roads for the people who pay for them"
"Demanding proper roads (and railways) in exchange for paying one seventh of all taxes"
"Debunking the nonsense you hear about the environmental impact of the car"
"Promoting effective road safety instead of the criminalisation of safe driving"

Don't Crack in the Cold RAC Warns Motorists

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Credit cards, CDs, pen knives and even a fish slice are just some of the items 56% of Britain's motorists have admitted to using to clear ice from their windscreens, according to an RAC Auto Windscreens' winter vision survey.

These alternative ice scrapers may seem to do the job, but in fact they can create tiny scratches on the windscreen which could prove hazardous. Scratches on a windscreen can potentially obscure the driver's vision when they are hit by the glare of headlights from on-coming traffic, RAC Auto Windscreens, the vehicle glazing expert, is warning motorists.

Similarly, nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed admitted to breaking the law and driving with porthole vision. By law the windows and mirrors of a vehicle must be clear and de-misted thoroughly before you set off on your journey. Drivers who ignore the law are risking a £1000 fine for driving with restricted vision.

RAC Auto Windscreens Technical and Safety Manager, Chris Bonsall said: "As well as breaking the law you are endangering the life of yourself and other motorists if you drive with restricted vision. Why put yourself and others at risk for the sake of getting up a few minutes earlier in the morning and investing a few pounds on an ice scraper and can of de-icer. If you don't, it could be a hefty fine or worse still, a 14 year prison sentence if you cause a death while driving with restricted vision."

Follow RAC Auto Windscreens' five-point advice plan to ensure your windscreen does not fall foul of the frost or law this winter:

Get any chips in your windscreen repaired now. In extreme cold a chip can turn to a crack. All RAC Auto Windscreens' fitting centres offer free windscreen checks.
Always carry a purpose-made ice scraper and a can of de-icer in your car. Frost doesn't just occur at night.
Never, ever use hot or boiling liquid to clear your windscreen. The extreme of hot on cold can cause the windscreen to crack.
It takes at least five minutes to fully de-ice your car, so allow extra time in your morning routine.
Ensure you top up with anti-freeze and screen wash daily. Never be tempted to use washing-up liquid in place of anti-freeze, particularly in cold weather.

Winter vision survey

56% of respondents have used something other than a purpose-made ice scraper
32% of respondents admit to pouring hot water onto a frozen windscreen
87% of women compared to 75% of men claim to clear all their vehicle's windows
18% of motorists admit to just clearing their front and rear windscreens
24% of motorists admit to driving with porthole vision

Web Site:
RAC Web Site, Roadside Assistance and Other Services

Research Material:

RAC Auto Windscreens provides a wholly owned and operated complete automotive glazing repair and replacement service (windscreens, rear windows and side windows) through the largest fitting centre network in the UK.
It is the only replacement windscreen specialist with its own manufacturing operation, producing 250,000 windscreens a year in a dedicated factory in Chesterfield.

Ford's Dagenham Engine Plant Celebrates 40 Years of Production

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Trevor Leeks, front left, Dagenham engine plant area manager, and Terry Burns, plant union convenor, congratulate Ford Dagenham employees on the successful launch of the plant's newest engine

Ford of Britain's Dagenham engine plant celebrated 40 years of production for Ford Transit with the introduction of a new 2.2-litre diesel unit for the vehicle – itself 40 years old this year.

Diesel engine builders joined managers and trade union representatives at the 'job one' ceremony marking the first of the new power units off the line. Production will rise to 200,000 engines a year by June 2006.

The engine is the product of the fourth phase of cooperation on diesel engines between Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroën. The agreement was signed in 1998, since when the manufacturers have jointly built over 4,000,000 engines and seen diesel penetration soar to 55 per cent of car sales in some European markets.

Dagenham plant benefited from £82 million of investment to design and manufacture the clean and efficient commercial vehicle engine. The new business takes Ford Dagenham's output over a million engines a year.

It adds a sixth product to Dagenham's proven diesel line-up, which spans 1.8 to 2.7-litre engines. The site has already seen investment worth more than £550 million since 2003, when Dagenham was declared the company's global centre for diesel engine design and production.

Trevor Leeks, engine line area manager, said: "The successful launch of this landmark Dagenham product is a credit to this plant's ability to win more business in the face of stiff competition and also to the 2,350 people who work in diesel assembly producing high tech engines."

Plant union convenor Terry Burns said: "This is more positive news for Dagenham. It's not only good for those who work in plant, it is good for the whole community."

Development work on the 2.2-litre light van engine took place in Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre, which is adjacent to engine plant. The two facilities worked together to bring the engine from the design drawing board to job one in 24 months.

Dagenham has produced engines for the iconic Ford Transit since 1965. Then the plant supplied V4 petrol engines to the new commercial vehicle which went on to dominate van sales for its entire 40-year lifetime.

The Ford Transit range will include the new Dagenham-built engine from 2006. Environmental considerations were uppermost in the minds of the Dagenham engineering team. This new engine produces half the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions compared with its predecessors. Carbon dioxide emissions are down by 20 per cent and particulates by 40 per cent.

As part of Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroën's cooperation, further production capacity announced last year will bring 1.4 and 1.6-litre diesel engines to Dagenham from 2007.

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The Automotive Industry Records Substantial Long-Term Vehicle Quality Improvements

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Lexus Ranks Highest in Vehicle Dependability for the 11th Consecutive Year;
General Motors and Ford Motor Company Earn Record Number of Model Awards

The automotive industry records an impressive 12 percent improvement in long-term vehicle quality, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) released today.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old (2002 model-year) vehicles, provides useful information to both consumers and the automotive industry on long-term vehicle quality. For consumers, the VDS offers insight into the reliability and dependability of brands and specific models as they approach the end of a typical warranty period. Manufacturers use this information to track the quality performance of their models over time to implement product improvement plans.

At the industry level, manufacturers have made a considerable leap in quality, with improvements across all categories. The industry average improves 32 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) compared to 2004. In addition, nearly all nameplates and 84 percent of vehicle models included in the 2005 VDS also record year-over-year improvements. The categories showing the most significant improvements in 2005 include ride, handling and braking; engine; and interior.

"While the Initial Quality Study [IQS], which measures problems experienced in the first 90 days of ownership, can be an indicator of how models will perform over time, our studies consistently show that long-term durability is a tremendously important factor to consumers," said Chance Parker, executive director of product and research analysis at J.D. Power and Associates. "As the number of problems owners experience with their vehicles increases, repurchase intent and the number of recommendations owners will make to others decreases. The study also finds that long-term durability can have a significant impact on a vehicle’s retained value."

According to actual retail transaction data from the Power Information Network, a division of J.D. Power and Associates, 3-year-old vehicles of brands that perform above the industry average in VDS typically retain $1,000 more of their value than those of brands performing below the industry average.

Lexus, which ranks highest in vehicle dependability for the 11th consecutive year, improves 14 percent (23 PP100) compared to 2004.

Porsche makes the largest percentage improvement in its VDS score, while Hyundai experiences the largest reduction in problems reported by owners. Porsche, which ranks second among nameplates, improves 38 percent compared to 2004—a 91 PP100 improvement. Although still hovering below the industry average, Hyundai records a dramatic 115 PP100 improvement (31%).

"Hyundai experienced similar levels of improvement in the 2002 IQS, when these vehicles were new, which shows a successful effort by Hyundai in translating short-term quality improvements into higher long-term quality," said Parker. "Even though there is still room for improvement, Hyundai is a great example of an automaker that is making strides toward improving vehicle quality by paying close attention to owner feedback and designing products with both short- and long-term quality in mind."

General Motors models earn eight segment awards and Ford Motor Company models receive five segments awards —a record for both GM and Ford in VDS. Toyota Motor Corporation models receive four awards.

The Lexus LS 430, which earns a score of 90 PP100, is the first model in VDS history to receive fewer than 100 PP100. The LS 430 receives the premium luxury car segment award, and Lexus also receives awards for its RX 300 (entry luxury SUV) and LX 470 (premium luxury SUV) models.

Chevrolet captures the most segment awards, with the Prizm (compact car), Malibu (entry midsize car), S-10 Pickup (midsize pickup) and Silverado HD (heavy-duty full-size pickup) each earning an award in their respective segments. Ford receives three segment awards, for the Thunderbird (entry luxury car), Windstar (midsize van) and E-Series (full-size van).

The VDS is one of three J.D. Power and Associates quality metrics, along with IQS and the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, which measures customer perceptions on the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles. The results of the 2005 IQS were released in May and the 2005 APEAL Study is scheduled for release in late September.

The 2005 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 50,635 original owners of 2002 model-year cars and light trucks. For more information on vehicle ratings, visit the J.D. Power Consumer Center at www.jdpower.com.

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 37 countries. Sales in 2004 were $5.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Source:
J.D. Power and Associates

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Audi Launches a Major Broadcasting Revolution

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Audi UK makes broadcasting history this week with the official launch of the Audi Channel. The company is the first car manufacturer in the world to transmit its own dedicated digital television channel and holds the first ever self-promotional licence, granted by Ofcom, setting a precedent in broadcasting regulations.

Audi Channel, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the Sky Digital platform (currently channel 259), is also the first brand-specific entertainment channel in Europe. Audi is essentially the first brand to go beyond advertiser-funded TV programmes.

Audi is a prestigious, sophisticated and sporty brand and the Audi Channel reflects this. It will of course showcase the company's ever increasing range through informative programming - there will be nine major product launches alone during the channel's first year - but it has also been designed to entertain with content that extends far beyond the cars themselves.

An impressive array of Audi activities are brought to life on screen, including Le Mans motor racing, the UK's largest amateur golf tournament, Goodwood, high-goal polo and red carpet arrivals at some of the hottest events of the season. Audi Channel also features interviews with top celebrities and informative documentaries, such as the history of Audi's legendary quattro, the production of the thrilling Audi 'ski jump' ad and the making of a watch inspired by Audi with highly acclaimed jeweller, Stephen Webster.

Audi Channel perfectly complements the company's core philosophy of Vorsprung durch Technik - advancement through technology. It is the latest addition to Audi's extensive media portfolio, which also includes a highly successful web site (www.audi.co.uk) that receives over 700,000 visits per month, and a bi-annual Audi Magazine with a print run of more than 300,000 per issue. The Audi Channel is the result of two years of research and development into new ways of communicating with the public.

A marketing innovation, Audi Channel allows Audi UK to capitalise on the phenomenal growth of digital television. It gives the company constant access to over 7.6 million homes and nearly 21 million individuals. 'Ad avoidance' is an increasingly important issue but while Audi will not be reducing its support of more traditional advertising forms, Audi Channel opens up a new and important communication platform to a wide audience, enabling the viewer to spend more time engaging in a deeper way with the brand.

In the future, Audi plans to allow viewers to interact with the channel, providing them with various functions, such as finding their local dealership, requesting a brochure or booking a test drive.

"Audi is proud to be leading this development in brand entertainment," says Gary Savage, Audi UK's head of marketing. "Digital TV is a powerful communication platform with broad appeal, and will become ever more so as the entire country switches from analogue to digital between 2008 and 2012."

"Audi Channel allows us to extend our relationship with current Audi owners - and reach out to a vast and ever-increasing pool of potential new customers. In the multi-channel age, viewers have the power to follow their own special interests, and Audi is the first major brand to seize this amazing opportunity afforded by advances in digital technology."

"With hundreds of channels available, content is king: Audi Ch

Jonathan Fry

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Audi Launches a Major Broadcasting Revolution