Continental's Latest SUV Feature: "Smart Handling"
IVsource.net
2 December 2000

German automotive supplier Continental Teves foresees a huge market over the next four years for intelligent stability systems ... and, with its new offerings, is well poised to take advantage of it.

In support of the Sequoia program, Continental will provide a customized version of its Electronic Stability Program that includes a whole suite of advanced features: ABS (Anti-lock Brake System), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), TCS (Traction Control System), and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) functions.  The safety system will be produced at Continental's Electronic Brake System plant in Morganton, NC, and its actuation plant in Asheville, NC.

"We are very excited to support the electronic braking and vehicle stability needs of this important new program,'' said Bill Kozyra, president of Continental Teves, NA.  "We are committed to delivering excellence and helping Toyota fulfill its product promises.''

Continental's Electronic Stability Program, being marketed by Toyota as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), enhances vehicle control and handling.  Using sensors to determine where the vehicle is going versus where the driver wants the vehicle to go, VSC integrates a number of safety features into a total stability system.  The integrated system helps to control braking, accelerating, steering, and handling to assist the driver through the twists and turns of driving.  It can sense an oversteer or understeer condition and selectively apply any of the vehicle's individual brakes and adjust engine torque to help the driver maintain control and stability.  The VSC System eventually will be standard on all Toyota models.

Continental forecasts that the market for intelligent stability systems is on the verge of dramatic growth in the US.  The company  supplied close to 400,000 ESP units worldwide last year.  This year the unit count will soar to 1.4 million worldwide and is expected to exceed 3.5 million by 2004.  Continental expects one out of every three cars in Europe will be equipped with ESP by 2004.  Sales in the US, helped by the introduction of the new Sequoia, are experiencing significant increases.

Continental Teves, headquartered in Frankfurt/Main Germany, is a unit of Continental AG, Hanover, Germany.  The $2.6 billion business unit designs, develops, and supplies a range of critical brake and chassis systems.  The company's North American headquarters are located in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

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... see www.ddd-online.com/ContiTeves/28030.html.

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