By Chrissie Thompson, Automotive News - General Motors Co. said it will add more vehicle brake-override systems by the end of 2012, in the latest reaction to Toyota Motor Corp.'s unintended-acceleration problems.
GM said today it will add the systems to all cars worldwide that have automatic transmissions and electronic throttle controls.
Similarly, after the recent recall involving 8.5 million vehicles, many because of unintended acceleration, Toyota is installing brake-override systems on seven current models. The Japanese automaker also has said it plans to introduce the system on all U.S. models by 2011. About 20 percent of Toyota's U.S. vehicles now have the system.
GM has said its vehicles either have brake overrides or have brakes strong enough to stop vehicles within 554 feet when vehicles are traveling at 60 mph. The override systems already are on the Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro V8, Malibu L4, Colorado V8, Cobalt and HHR; GMC Canyon V8 and Cadillac CTS-V and STS-V, GM spokesman Alan Adler said.
Adding the overrides to more GM vehicles involves activating a GM-developed algorithm already in each vehicle's brake system, Adler said.
In a statement, GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said installing the technology will give consumers extra reassurance.
The brake-override plan will better prepare GM for any regulatory changes prompted by the Toyota crisis. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said last month his agency is considering a proposal to require brake-override systems on all new vehicles.
At that time, GM and Honda Motor Co. were the only major automakers without the systems in most vehicles or without firm plans to install the systems on a widespread basis.
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