Stability control systems greatly reduce the risk of rollover in any vehicle with a high center of gravity, such as SUVs, pickups, and vans. As previously stated, the IIHS estimates that if all vehicles had stability control, fatal single-vehicle crashes would be reduced by 56% and the overall risk of single-vehicle crashes could drop up to 40%.
Ford claims this new policy will put it ahead of any proposed mandate, and we expect other big carmakers to follow suit with their own announcements. GM has already announced that its SUVs will come with ESP by the end of 2007, and on all vehicles by 2010. The stability control announcement will also apply to the Lincoln and Mercury brands, but not others like Mazda and Volvo.
Full press release after the jump.
FORD TO MAKE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL STANDARD ON ALL CARS AND TRUCKS BY END OF 2009
* Ford Motor Company will build all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury retail cars and trucks with standard electronic stability control by the end of 2009. ESC currently is standard on all Ford mid- and full-size SUVs and will be expanded to small SUVs and all CUVs in 2007.
* Ford Motor Company and its global brands have built 4 million vehicles globally with electronic stability control systems. More than one million of those vehicles feature Ford's industry exclusive, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control, the world's only system with two gyroscopic sensors to actively measures and help control both yaw and roll movements.
* Electronic stability control offers additional confidence to drivers in emergency situations by helping them stay on the road and avoid accidents.
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 13, 2006 - Ford Motor Company is announcing it will build all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury retail cars and trucks with standard electronic stability control (ESC) by the end of 2009. Ford already is a world leader in the technology, with ESC currently standard on all Ford mid- and full-size SUVs, and standard ESC expanded to small SUVs and all CUVs in 2007.
"This is an acceleration of our plans to standardize safety features and is in line with our goal to be America's car company," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Product Development, The Americas. "That commitment and an intense customer focus at the heart of the Way Forward plan led us to accelerate our plans to standardize electronic stability control systems."
Several studies, including those by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, show that electronic stability control is a highly effective safety innovation. A recent IIHS study indicates ESC systems can reduce single vehicle crashes by more than 40 percent and fatal accidents by 56 percent.
"We believe our electronic stability control systems are further improving vehicle safety by helping prevent many accidents from occurring in the first place," said Sue Cischke, vice president, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "Making families safer is a key part of our pledge to drive safety innovation."
Ford Motor Company currently has 4 million vehicles on the road globally with electronic stability control systems. More than one million of those vehicles feature Ford's AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control an industry exclusive. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control, is the only available system which has two gyroscopic effect sensors to measure vehicle motion about both the Yaw and Roll axes.
Ford's first application of electronic stability control debuted in the 2000 model year. The 2003 model year Volvo XC90 was the first sport utility vehicle to feature standard AdvanceTrac ® with Roll Stability Control. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control is standard equipment on most 2007 model year Ford Motor Company SUVs and crossovers, including, Explorer and Expedition, Sport Trac, Lincoln Navigator, Mercury Mountaineer, Volvo XC90, Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and on most E-350 passenger Wagons. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control will be added standard to the 2008 model year Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. ESC will be added standard to the 2008 model year Ford Freestyle.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company.
