General Motors has stood to benefit from the downward demand for Toyota products as the Japanese automaker faced recent unintended acceleration problems plaguing the majority of its vehicles. Consumer fear and stop sales have contributed to much lower sales numbers than Toyota is typically accustomed to and this drop has benefited domestic counterparts such as GM and Ford. GM has even offered incentives for disgruntled Toyota owners to trade in their vehicles, a move that’s currently a hot-button topic among the automotive press.
In an additional measure to improve consumer perception and increase the safety of its vehicles, GM is equipping all passenger cars that have automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control with technology GM calls an “enhanced smart pedal.” This brake override system will modify electronic controls and reduce power to the engine when the brake and accelerator are simultaneously depressed.
GM assures that their standards are among the highest in the industry and wants to further inspire consumer confidence and guarantee that people can depend on the brakes in their GM vehicles. The worldwide roll-out of this technology will be completed by the end of 2012, but we wonder how this will affect those of us who like to smoke some tires while concurrently mashing on both the throttle and the brake. We’ll just have to wait and see!
GM to Expand Brake Override Software Globally by 2012
2010-04-05
DETROIT – General Motors will expand use of “enhanced smart pedal” technology globally to all passenger cars with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control, providing an additional safeguard to enhance customer confidence.
Also known as brake override, the change involves modifying existing electronic controls to reduce power to the engine in cases where the brake and accelerator pedal are being depressed at the same time. The global rollout will be completed by the end of 2012.
GM has had for the past several years a braking performance standard that applies to all cars, trucks and crossovers, requiring that the brakes can stop the vehicle within a specific distance. So brake override is an additional safeguard.
“News media analyses of government data consistently validates that GM’s safety record on this issue is among the strongest in the industry,” said Tom Stephens, vice chairman, GM Global Product Operations. “At the same time, we know safety is top of mind for consumers, so we are applying additional technology to reassure them that they can count on the brakes in their GM vehicle.”
The rollout plan balances the speed of implementation with validation needed to assure that customers feel no deterioration in drivability.
About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 204,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
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