American automaker General Motors announced Wednesday plans to start equipping 98% of its 2023 model year products with Automatic Emergency Braking, along with four other active safety features as standard.
Notably, GM aims to exceed its initial target of adding the AEB feature as standard equipment in at least 95% of its new vehicle sales.
Scope
Considering that GM is eyeing all 2023 and newer vehicles for the update, the mix would include the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV.
Apart from the AEB feature, the automaker will also start including the following four safety features in the majority of its 2023 model-year cars:
- Forward Collision Alert
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- IntelliBeam
“GM has gone well beyond the safety commitment we made to our customers for the 2023 model year, with a handful of additional standard safety features shown to bring real-world results. As we look ahead toward a future vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, these technologies are significant building blocks with proven benefits for reducing common crashes.”
John Capp, Vehicle Safety Technology, Strategy, and Regulations Director
Why is it necessary?
The announcement aligns with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) latest proposal that all new passenger cars and light trucks must have an AEB feature within three years.
“With this proposal, we could change a high-speed crash from a deadly one to a lower-speed crash with minor injuries or just property damage.”
Ann Carlson, NHTSA chief counsel
GM also noted its commitment to safety research data to support the decision. A 2023 study at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) revealed that AEB paired with Forward Collision Alert prevented rear-end collisions by 42%. According to the same study, Front Pedestrian Braking reduced pedestrian head-on collisions by 23%.
Meanwhile, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning decreased roadway departure accidents—collisions caused by a car straying off the road or into other lanes—by 15%.
Last but not least, GM cited a different 2022 UMTRI research showing that IntelliBeam reduced nighttime collisions involving pedestrians, bikers, and animals by 22%.
See Also:
- General Motors, Samsung SDI to invest over $3 billion in a US battery plant
- General Motors to halt Chevy Bolt EV/EUV production by the end of 2023
- General Motors leads $50 million funding round in EnergyX for lithium supply in the US
- General Motors installs the first of 40,000 new electric vehicle chargers
- General Motors targets $50 billion in EV revenue
Nonetheless, it must be noted that it is still the driver’s duty to operate the vehicle safely, not these kinds of safety features. That said, drivers must pay close attention to the environment, other traffic, and the route itself.
