Automotive News - May 17, 2010 - 20

20 • MAY 17, 2010

CONGRESS
House’s black box would cost more
continued from Page 1

Yeas and nays
Provisions in auto safety legislation The industry supports A brake override system Black boxes (event data recorders) The industry wants Less stringent standards for black-box technology Longer timeline for implementation

Customer Incentives
Incentives in this table are a summary of retail programs offered. Programs may vary by region and model.
Cash rebate Finance rate Cash rebate Finance rate Cash rebate Finance rate

BMW GROUP
Expires June 30. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models BMW 3 series, X5 $0-$4,500 3.9-5.9% 1 series, 7 series, M3 3.9-5.9% 5 series, X6, Z4 4.9-5.9% ActiveHybrid 7, X5 M, X6 M 5.9% 2010 models BMW M3, X3, X6, Z4 0.9-4.5% 7 series, M6 0.9-4.5% 1 series, 3 series, 5 series, 6 series, M5, X5 0.9-5.5% X5 M, X6 M 5.5%

Hummer H2, H2 SUT, H3 $5,000 H3T $4,000 Saab 9-3, 9-5, 9-7X $5,000-$9,000

0% 0% 0%

Stanton, president of AIAM, which represents 15 foreign automakers. “Let’s just do it right.” Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the alliance, which consists of 11 domestic and foreign automakers, says the technology requirements “can be adopted quickly to reassure the public.” Neither lobby has estimated the overall cost on manufacturers, an amount that will depend on the provisions that become law. But a black box made according to the standards in the House bill would add several thousand dollars to the cost of each vehicle, alliance CEO Dave McCurdy estimated. Some advocacy groups are pushing lawmakers to resist weakening the standards in the bill, especially those for black boxes. “Any more Band-Aids are a waste of lives, time and money,” Joan Claybrook, president emeritus of Public Citizen and a former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief, told a House panel this month. She said NHTSA “needs to enter the 21st century and be able to collect and analyze real-time crash data received electronically.”

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Expires July 6.
2011 models Honda Pilot 2010 models Acura MDX, RDX, TL, TSX, ZDX RL Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Civic, Insight, Ridgeline CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot Element, Fit 2009 models Acura MDX, RDX, RL, TL, TSX Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Fit, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, S2000 1.9-2.9% 0.9-1.9% 5.0-5.5% 0.9-1.9% 1.9-2.9% 5.0-5.5% 5.0-5.5% 5.0-5.5%

Corolla, Matrix Highlander (excl. Hybrid) Prius, Venza RAV4, Tacoma Highlander Hybrid, Sienna

$0-$1,000 $0-$1,000 $0-$1,000 $0-$1,000

0-1.9% 0-2.9% 0-3.9% 0-2.9% 0-2.9%

VW GROUP OF AMERICA
Expires June 1.
2010 models Audi A6, A8, TT, TTS A3, A4, A5 Q5, Q7, S4 R8 Volkswagen CC, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Routan, Passat, Tiguan, Touareg Eos, New Beetle 2009 models Volkswagen Eos, New Beetle, Routan CC, Passat, Touareg GLI, Jetta, Tiguan 1.9-2.9% 1.9-3.9% 2.9-3.9% 4.0-5.0% 0-3.9% 3.9% 0% 0-4.9% 2.9-4.9%

CHRYSLER GROUP

They can be installed with an inexpensive software fix, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said. About 20 percent of Toyota’s U.S. vehicles have brake override systems, a company spokesman has said. Toyota plans to install them on all new U.S. models by 2011.

Black boxes
Black boxes, which can be stored inside instrument panels or under front seats, record speed, acceleration and brake information immediately before and during a serious crash. They can be used by regulators, plaintiffs’ lawyers and automakers to help understand what happened to a vehicle and how the safety systems performed. Plaintiffs’ lawyers have complained that, unlike the Detroit 3, Toyota has blocked or limited access to its blackbox data. Toyota consistently has maintained that its unintended-acceleration problems have been caused by floormat interference or sticky pedals rather than by any electronic defects. A number of German manufacturers still have not installed black boxes because of concerns for owner privacy. “We obviously will comply with the legislation and have begun to look at installing” event data recorders, said Thomas Plucinsky, a BMW of North America spokesman. He said BMW has not estimated the cost of tucking black boxes into the 300,000 cars the company sells each year in North America. Volkswagen has black boxes only in its Routan minivans, which account for 1 percent of U.S. sales. “The safety and privacy of our customers are top priorities for Volkswagen, and we support legislation requiring electronic data recorders in passenger vehicles,” Volkswagen of America spokeswoman Jill Bratina said. The auto lobbies have targeted a section of the House bill that would require the black boxes to store accident data for at least 60 seconds before a crash or airbag deployment and 15 seconds after. “I honestly do not understand what is sacred about those time frames,” Stanton said. Claybrook said the post-crash interval is necessary to collect data about rollover crashes, which, she said, account for 10,000 deaths a year. It is the 75-second standard that McCurdy estimates could add thousands of dollars to the cost of each vehicle. By way of comparison, Toyota’s black boxes record crash data for five seconds before a crash and several seconds after, a company spokesman said. Toyota started phasing in black boxes in 2001 and has had them in all new vehicles since the 2007 model year. But the company said several models do not record pre-crash data. c

Expires June 30. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2010 models Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser $2,000-$3,000 0-1.9% Sebring, Town & County $0-$2,000 0-1.9% Dodge Charger $3,000 0-1.9% Ram 1500 $1,000-$3,000 0-4.9% Avenger, Dakota, Nitro $0-$2,000 0-1.9% Journey, Ram 2500/3500 $1,500 0-4.9% Caliber, Grand Caravan $1,000-$1,500 0-5.9% Challenger 1.9-3.9% Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee $4,000 0-1.9% Compass, Liberty, Patriot $1,500-$2,000 0-4.9% Wrangler 0-5.9%

HYUNDAI-KIA AUTOMOTIVE
Expires June 1. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models Kia Sorento $1,000 0-9.9% 2010 models Kia Sedona $1,500-$2,500 0-4.9% Optima, Sportage, Rio $1,000-$2,000 Forte, Soul $0-$1,000 0-9.9% 2009 models Kia Sorento, Spectra $3,000-$5,000 Sedona $2,500-$3,500 Optima, Sportage $3,000 0-1.9% Amanti, Borrego $3,000 Rio, Rondo $2,000-$2,500 0-1.9%

VOLVO
Expires June 30.
2011 models C30, C70 2010 models S80, XC70 C30, S40, V50, V70, C70 XC60, XC90 3.9% 0% 0-0.9% 3.9%

Dealer Incentives
Incentives in this table are a summary of dealer programs offered. Programs may vary by region and model.

FORD MOTOR CO.
Expires June 1. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty $500 0-8.9% Mustang 0-7.9% 2010 models Ford F-450 Super Duty $5,000 0-3.9% F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty $4,000-$5,000 0-5.9% F-150, Ranger $1,000-$2,500 0-8.9% Explorer Sport Trac, Mustang $1,000-$2,500 0-5.9% Edge, Explorer, Focus $0-$2,500 0-7.9% Expedition, Flex $1,500 0-5.9% Escape, Fusion $1,000 0-5.9% Transit Connect $500-$1,000 0-8.9% E series (incl. cargo), Taurus $0-$500 0-7.9% Lincoln MKX, Town Car $3,000 0-3.9% Navigator $2,500 0-6.9% MKS, MKT, MKZ $0-$2,000 0-7.9% Mercury Grand Marquis $3,000 0-7.9% Mountaineer $2,000 0-5.9% Mariner, Milan $1,000 0-6.9% 2009 models Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty $5,000 0-4.9% E series $1,000 0-4.9%

JAGUAR
Expires June 1.
2010 models XF series, XK series 1.9-3.9%

BMW GROUP
Expires June 30.
2010 models BMW 6 series, M6 $10,000-$12,500 5 series, M5 $5,000-$7,500 1 series, 3 series, M3, Z4 $2,000-$3,500

LAND ROVER
Expires June 30.
2010 models Land Rover LR2, LR4 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport 2009 models Land Rover LR2 0.9-2.9% 0.9-3.9% 0.9%

CHRYSLER GROUP
Expires June 30.
2010 models Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Sebring Dodge Avenger, Dakota $0-$2,000 $0-$2,000

MERCEDES-BENZ
Expires June 1.
2010 models Mercedes-Benz C class, E class, R Class GLK, SLK CLS, GL, M class, S class 1.9-2.9% 1.9-3.9% 1.9-4.9%

FORD MOTOR CO.
Expires Dec. 31.
2009 models Ford Explorer, F-150 Edge, Flex, Mustang, Ranger Expedition, Expedition EL, Focus Explorer Sport Trac Lincoln Town Car MKS, MKX, MKZ, Navigator Mercury Grand Marquis $0-$5,500 $0-$4,500 $0-$3,500 $0-$2,500 $8,000 $0-$6,500 $6,500

Industry impact
The impact of a brake override system requirement on the auto industry would be minimal. All major automakers either have them on all their cars or have announced plans to install them. Only Honda hasn’t done so. But on Friday, May 14, Honda said it would apply the software to all full- or minor-change 2011 models starting this fall. Those will account for fewer than half of the 1.2 million Hondas and Acuras to be sold in the United States, Honda spokesman Kurt Antonius said. The impact of a black-box requirement would be more significant. Two of every three new vehicles are equipped with them, a NHTSA spokeswoman said. That leaves, most notably, German manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen, which typically don’t provide black boxes, and small companies such as Ferrari and Jaguar, Stanton and Bergquist said.

MITSUBISHI
Expires June 1. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2010 models Galant $3,500 0% Endeavor $3,500 0-2.9% Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder $3,000 0-1.9% Lancer, Lancer Sportback $1,500 0-1.9% Outlander $1,000 0-4.9% Lancer Evolution 0-5.9% 2009 models Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider $3,000 Galant, Lancer, Outlander $1,500-$2,500

GENERAL MOTORS CO.
Expires June 30.
2010 models Cadillac DTS, STS Escalade (incl. Hybrid), Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT CTS, CTS-V Chevrolet HHR Aveo, Cobalt, Express (incl. cargo) Pontiac Vibe $4,000 $2,500 $1,000 $0-$4,000 $0-$3,000 $3,000

GENERAL MOTORS CO.
Expires June 30. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models Buick Regal 3.9-6.9% 2010 models Buick Lucerne $4,000 2.9-4.9% Enclave $1,500 1.9-3.9% LaCrosse 3.9-4.9% Cadillac CTS, CTS-V 0-2.9% DTS, Escalade (incl. Hybrid), Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, SRX, STS 1.9-4.9% Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500 Hybrid, Silverado 2500/3500HD $5,000 0-4.9% HHR, Silverado 1500 $0-$5,000 0-5.9% Suburban, Tahoe (incl. Hybrid) $3,000 0-4.9% Impala, Malibu (incl. Hybrid) $3,000 0-5.9% Aveo, Cobalt, Corvette $0-$3,000 0-5.9% Colorado, Traverse $1,000-$2,000 2.9-4.9% Express (incl. cargo) 4.9-5.9% Equinox 6.9% GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid, Sierra 2500/3500HD $5,000 0-4.9% Sierra 1500 $4,500-$5,000 0-4.9% Yukon (incl. Hybrid), Yukon XL $3,000 0-4.9% Acadia, Canyon $1,000-$2,000 0-4.9% Savana (incl. cargo) $1,500 2.9-4.9% Terrain 6.9% Hummer H3, H3T $3,000 0% Saab 9-3 $1,500-$2,000 0-2.9% 2009 models Buick Lucerne $4,500 0% Enclave, LaCrosse $2,500-$4,000 0% Chevrolet Corvette $0-$5,000 0% Avalanche $4,500 0% Silverado 2500HD, Silverado 3500HD $3,500-$4,500 0% HHR $0-$4,500 0% Express cargo, Impala, Malibu (incl. Hybrid), Silverado 1500 Hybrid, Suburban, Tahoe (incl. Hybrid) $4,000 0% Silverado 1500 $2,500-$4,000 0% Express, TrailBlazer $3,500 0% Traverse $2,500-$3,500 0% Aveo, Cobalt, Equinox $0-$3,500 0% Colorado $1,500-$2,500 0% GMC Sierra 2500HD, Sierra 3500HD $3,500-$4,500 0% Savana cargo, Sierra 1500 Hybrid, Yukon (incl. Hybrid), Yukon XL $4,000 0% Sierra 1500 $2,500-$4,000 0% Acadia, Envoy, Savana $2,500-$3,500 0% Canyon $1,500-$2,500 0%

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA
Nissan expires June 1; Infiniti expires June 30. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models Infiniti M37, M56 2.9-3.9% 2010 models Infiniti FX35, FX50, M35, M45, QX56 0-2.9% EX35, G37 0-4.9% Nissan Titan $4,000-$5,000 0-2.9% Armada $4,000 0-1.9% Altima Hybrid $0-$4,000 0-1.9% Pathfinder $2,500 0-2.9% Xterra $2,250 0-2.9% Frontier $1,500-$2,000 0-2.9% Maxima $1,250-$2,000 0-1.9% Sentra $1,000-$2,000 0-1.9% Versa $0-$1,500 0-0.9% Rogue $1,000-$1,250 0-2.9% Murano $500-$1,250 0-2.9% Altima $1,000 0-3.9% 2009 models Infiniti G37 0-3.9% Nissan Altima Hybrid $0-$4,750 0-1.9% Altima $1,750 0-1.9% Versa $0-1,750 0%

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Expires July 6.
2010 models Acura RL, TL, TSX Honda Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline Accord, Civic, Insight $750-$2,500 $1,500 $0-$1,200

LAND ROVER
Expires June 30.
2010 models Land Rover LR2, Range Rover $0-$4,000

MAZDA
Expires June 1.
2010 models MX-5 Miata, Mazda5, RX-8 CX-7, CX-9 $1,500-$2,000 $1,000

MITSUBISHI
Expires June 1.
2009 models Raider $1,000

Controversial provisions
The House and Senate bills, which are similar, seek to improve vehicle safety, increase NHTSA’s authority and resources and make safety information more transparent to the public. Some of their most controversial provisions would lift the $16.4 million cap on fines, give NHTSA authority to order an immediate recall and impose fees on automakers to finance funding increases for regulators. The mandate of electronic brake override systems stems from Toyota’s problems with unintended acceleration. Those safety defects have led to recalls totaling 9 million vehicles worldwide since September, as well as reports of 52 deaths that are under federal investigation. Brake override systems automatically cut engine power when the gas and brake pedals are both depressed.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA
Nissan expires June 1; Infiniti expires June 30. 2010 models Infiniti M45, QX56 $1,000-$6,000 EX35, FX35, FX50, G37, M35 $1,000-$5,000 Nissan Altima, Pathfinder $500 Altima Hybrid $0-$500

PORSCHE
Expires June 30.
2011 models Boxster Spyder 2010 models 911, Boxster, Cayenne, Cayman 2.9% 1.9%

SUBARU
Expires June 1.
2010 models Impreza, Legacy $0-$1,000

SUBARU
Expires June 1.
2010 models Forester, Impreza, Legacy Outback, Tribeca 0.9-3.9% 2.9-3.9%

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES
Expires June 1.
2011 models Toyota Camry 2010 models Toyota Tundra Avalon, Camry (incl. Hybrid), Matrix Corolla, Highlander, RAV4 Highlander Hybrid, Sienna Prius, Venza $0-$4,000 $0-$2,000 $0-$1,500 $0-$1,000 $0-$500 $0-$1,500

SUZUKI
Expires June 1. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2010 models Equator, Kizashi, SX4 $0-$2,000 0-4.9% Grand Vitara $1,500 0-4.9%

TOYOTA MOTOR SALES
Expires June 1. In lieu of rebates, cut-rate financing is available. 2011 models Toyota Camry (incl. Hybrid) $0-$750 0-2.9% 2010 models Lexus HS 250h 0.9% ES 350, IS 250, IS 350 1.9% Toyota Avalon, Tundra $0-$3,000 0-2.9% Camry (incl. Hybrid), Yaris $0-$1,500 0-2.9%

VOLVO
Expires June 30.
2011 models C30 2010 models C70, S80, XC70 C30, S40, V70 XC90, V50 $4,000-$5,000 $1,500-$2,500 $500-$1,000 $750

Source: Automotive News and Edmunds.com

http://www.Edmunds.com

Automotive News - May 17, 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - May 17, 2010