Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Jun 15, 2009 – Daimler AG will be presenting the latest safety systems for commercial vehicles at the International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). The ESV Conference is the world’s largest forum for vehicle-related safety. Enhanced safety versions of a truck, coach, and van will be exhibited at the Stuttgart exhibition center from June 15 to 18 at the event. In conjunction with its presentation of new passenger cars, and in particular the S-Class ESF 2009 (ESF = German abbreviation for Experimental Safety Vehicle), the company is once again underscoring its commitment to being the leading supplier of safe and reliable vehicles in all segments.


The Safety Truck, Safety Van, and Safety Coach are part of Daimler’s global Shaping Future Transportation initiative, which aims to use resources sparingly and reduce emissions of every kind, while at the same time guaranteeing maximum traffic safety. “We are intensively pursuing our vision of accident-free driving. For many years now, all major safety system innovations have been realized by Daimler,” says Andreas Renschler, the Daimler Board of Management member responsible for commercial vehicles. “Our SafeDrive Technologies initiative will pave the way for widespread use of safe commercial vehicles in road traffic — and that applies to trucks as well as to coaches and vans.”

More than 500 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the ESV Conference. Daimler is the main sponsor and organizer of this year’s conference. The event’s organizers have invited legal experts and representatives of state and federal governments, the automotive industry, vehicle research centers, universities, and the healthcare and insurance sectors. The International Technical Conferences on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles are generally held every two years. The event’s host in the U.S. is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while in Germany it is the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt).

In addition to presentations focusing on many passenger vehicle-related technologies, the ESV Conference provides information on commercial vehicle technology. Examples of this include the Advances in Truck Technology program feature, in which Daimler Commercial Vehicles will present its latest achievements in safety technology for commercial vehicles. “Trucks, buses, and vans play a major role in traffic,” says Renschler. “It is thus very important that these vehicles are equipped with the best safety features available so that drivers, passengers, and other road users can be protected against accidents as much as possible.”
Daimler Commercial Vehicles will be presenting three Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles that demonstrate the latest developments in safety technology: the Safety Truck, the Safety Van, and the Safety Coach.

The Safety Truck — a Mercedes Benz Actros — is equipped with the emergency braking system Active Brake Assist, which independently initiates an emergency braking maneuver when a collision with a vehicle ahead appears unavoidable. The vehicle also has a stability control system for trucks with trailers, a traffic-jam assistant, a lane assistant with steering intervention, a parking system with ultrasound sensors, a cornering assistant, a reversing aid for maneuvering with a trailer, and numerous other safety-related features.

A comprehensive range of safety equipment can also be found in the Mercedes-Benz Travego Safety Coach. Back in 2006, experts had already lauded this premium vehicle as the world’s safest travel coach. At the ESV Conference, the coach will be presented with the Active Brake Assist system, which proactively helps prevent rear-end collisions. Active Brake Assist is based on a proximity control system that has been available as optional equipment for the Mercedes-Benz Travego for many years.

Sophisticated safety features can also be found in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Safety Van. Thanks to the Adaptive ESP electronic stability program, the driver can even better respond to critical driving situations and control braking behavior with greater precision. The Safety Van is also equipped with Roll Over Mitigation, Roll Movement Intervention, and Understeering Control, all which help to further improve the effectiveness of Adaptive ESP. The feeling of safety in the Mercedes-Benz van is further enhanced by numerous additional safety-related features including airbags for the driver and front passenger, disc brakes all around, and adaptive brake lights.





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