Twenty leading automakers in the US, representing more than 99 per cent of the industry, have committed to make automatic emergency braking (AEB) a standard feature on new cars by September 2022.
The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the historic commitment by 20 automakers. They include Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.
“The unprecedented commitment means that this important safety technology will be available to more consumers more quickly than would be possible through the regulatory process,” said an NHTSA statement.
AEB systems help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for the driver. The systems use on-vehicle sensors such as radar, cameras or lasers to detect an imminent crash, warn the driver and apply the brakes if the driver does not take sufficient action quickly enough.
“It’s an exciting time for vehicle safety,” said Anthony Foxx, US transportation secretary. “By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives. It’s a win for safety and a win for consumers.”
Source : BS Motoring