This is the first time such a measure is welcomed instead of being contested by auto makers, as most car manufacturers were planning to make stability control standard on their vehicles before the new rule was announced, since this technology can actually prevent accidents, unlike airbags or seatbelts that are useful only after you were involved in a collision.
Similar regulations have been established before by the NHTSA, but only referred to SUV models.
An homologation test will be organized, and it will involve simulating an emergency maneuver at 50mph (80 km/h).
Estimated costs for the constructors rise up to 895 million dollars, and the impact on the single vehicle will be of approximately 111$ (a small price to pay for a system designed to save lives).
Only 40% of cars sold in the US today have an ESP system installed as standard. The deadline for the implementation of the new rule is September 2011.
Google News