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Safety Features in the US Market: Curtain Airbags and Active Headrests are on the RiseInstallation of passive safety equipment as standard features and the safety assessment of Japanese brand models

  What follows is the current status of installation of passive safety features (equipment to reduce damages at the time of accidents such as airbags and seatbelts) as standard features to passenger cars and light trucks sold as new vehicles in the period from 2003 to January/April 2006 in the US market (based on the data from JATO Dynamics).

  The equipment that has the highest rate of installation as standard features is front-seat airbags (for driving seats and front-passenger seats) of which installation rate is nearly 100%. Pretentioner seatbelts for front-seats also have a high level of installation rates.

  The installation rate of standard feature equipment is still low but expected to increase in the near future with side-airbags that protect the heads and torsos of passengers at the time of collision. The most recent figure for the installation of standard feature side-airbags is about one in three vehicles. The installation rate of curtain airbags, which protect the heads and torsos of passengers in both the front and rear seats, as a standard feature, is also on the rise and the most recent figure for the installation of the equipment is close to one in four vehicles.

  In addition to this equipment, the installation rate of active headrests to protect the neck region from whiplash injuries during collisions is also increasing; with the recent installation rate as standard features in front seats exceeding 10%. The ratio of standard feature headrests in rear seats for three passengers is more than 30%.

  There is a large difference in the installation rates between side airbags and curtain airbags, which are both increasingly installed as a standard feature by the manufacturing group. The installation rate of standard feature side airbags in BMW, Honda, Hyundai and VW, etc. is over 90% while the same rate in GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler (DCX) is lower than 20%.

  Also, the installation rate of standard feature curtain airbags in BMW, Honda and VW is over 70% (the installation rate in Hyundai is also over 60%) while the installation rate in Ford and DCX is less than 10%. The installation rate in GM and Toyota also is less than 20%.

  However, in Toyota, the total number of vehicles that have standard feature and optional feature curtain airbags installed is about 90% of the number of new vehicle sales (including Lexus brand vehicles). Nissan's total number of vehicles with standard feature and optional feature is also over 80% (including the Infiniti brand).

  16 models among Japanese brand models received a five-star rating in all four crash tests, in the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) for the 2006 year model released by HHTSA of USA. Also in the 2007 year model assessment, as there are models already subject to the assessment, five Japanese brand models received the five-star rating in the four crash tests (among the 2005 year models, nine Japanese brand models received five-star ratings in the four crash tests).

  Among the 21 Japanese brand models of the 2006/2007 year models that won the five-star rating in the four crash tests, the number of vehicles installed with side airbags is 18 models.

■Passive safety features with installation rate as standard features on the rise in the US market

(Note) Based on the data from JATO Dynamics. Standard feature installation rates in passenger cars and light trucks among new vehicle sales. 2006 means actual figures in January to April.

■Current standard feature installation of major passive safety equipment in the US market

■Honda/BMW/VW/Hyundai actively employ side airbags for front seats and curtain airbags

  The installation rate of standard side airbags for front seats was 33% in January to April 2006. However, there is a big difference in the rate by manufacturing group. The installation rate as a standard feature at BMW/Honda/Hyundai/Porsche/Subaru/VW is more than 90%. On the other hand, the installation rate as standard features at GM/Ford/DaimlerChrysler (DCX) is less than 20%.

  Further, the installation rate of curtain airbags as standard features among 15 manufacturing groups is 23%. However, the installation rate in BMW/Honda/VW is over 70% (Hyundai is also exceeding 60%) while the installation rate in Ford/DCX is less than 10% and in GM/Toyota is less than 20%.

  When looking at the installation of side airbags and curtain airbags with Japanese brand vehicles, Toyota installs these airbags to nearly 100% of Lexus brand vehicles as a standard feature and also installs these airbags to almost all the Toyota models as optional features. The total number of Toyota vehicles that have side airbags/curtain airbags as either standard or optional features reaches about 90% of the number of new vehicle sales.

  Nissan also installs standard feature side/curtain airbags to nearly 100% of Infiniti brand vehicles and a sizable number of Nissan brand vehicles also have those airbags as standard features. The total number of Nissan vehicles that have these standard feature and optional feature airbags is over 80% of the number of new vehicle sales.

■Installation of side airbags among 2006/2007 models of Japanese brand vehicles in the US market

■Installation of standard feature side airbags and curtain airbags by manufacturing group in the US market

■Japanese brand models equipped with side airbags receive high assessment in NCAP of USA

  In the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for the 2006 year models announced by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which belongs to the US Department of Transportation, the Acura RL 4-DR, which is a passenger car model, received the highest ratings with five stars in all the four tests of front/side crash as well as a rollover assessment, following the assessment of 2005 models.

  Among the assessment of 2006 models of Japanese brand models, in addition to the Acura RL, 15 models won five-star ratings in all the four crash tests except the rollover test. As for the assessment of 2007 models, with some models already being subject to the assessment, five Japanese brand models received five-star ratings in the four crash tests. The number of the Japanese brand models among the 2005 year models that won five star ratings in the four crash tests was 9.

  Among the 21 Japanese brand models of the 2006/2007 models that won five-star ratings in the four crash tests (including the Acura RL), the number of models equipped with side airbags are 18 models. Further, although there are many Japanese brand vehicles that only manage to have a three-star rating in the side crash assessment, most models that are installed with side airbags received four-star or five-star ratings in the side crash assessment (only a small number of models have three-star ratings).

■2006/2007 year models in the US market: Safety assessment of Japanese brand models by NHTSA

■Japanese brand pickup models: Safety assessment of 2006/2007 year models in the US market by NHTSA

■Japanese brand SUV models: Safety assessment of 2006/2007 year models in the US market by NHTSA

■Japanese brand van models: Safety assessment of 2006/2007 year models in the US market by NHTSA