AEB Systems More Common But Could Be Better
Safety groups says many automakers now include such systems in most light vehicles.

IIHS says front crash-prevention systems aren’t as effective in collisions with motorcycles and large trucks as with cars.
IMAGE: Pexels/Gustavo Fring
Nearly two dozen automakers have started to include automatic emergency braking in most light vehicles they make for U.S. consumers, though a safety group that helped forge the agreement says front crash-prevention systems could be improved.
The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said 20 vehicle producers met a voluntary commitment to equip new vehicles with the technology, installing it in 95% of the light vehicles they made by the year ended Aug. 31.
The fulfillment met the deadline of an agreement made in 2016 by the automakers that was brokered by the institute and federal safety regulator the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Consumer Reports monitored progress.
“Car buyers today will find that almost any new vehicle they buy comes standard with a city-speed AEB system, typically with pedestrian detection. This is significant progress, and it sets the stage for the strong federal safety standards that have been proposed,” said Consumer Reports Associate Director of Safety Policy William Wallace in a statement.
The pledge required automakers to install AEB on 95% of their light vehicles up to 8,500 pounds that slows the vehicle in low-speed tests that determine whether a model meets the institute’s advanced rating in a front crash-prevention evaluation.
This year, the NHTSA proposed that all new passenger vehicles with gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less have AEB that can avoid crashes at up to 50 mph.
The institute, meanwhile, says front crash-prevention systems aren’t as effective in collisions with motorcycles and large trucks as with cars. It says they cut rear-end crashes with the former vehicle types by 41% and 38%, respectively, but by 53% with cars.
“These reductions are impressive for all vehicle types, but the safety benefits could be even larger if front crash prevention systems were as good at mitigating and preventing crashes with big trucks and motorcycles as they are with cars,” said institute Vice President of Research Jessica Cicchino.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →