General Motors has awarded Continental Automotive Systems six contracts to supply electronic stability control (ESC) for several future vehicle programs. Continental currently supplies ESC, which GM markets as StabiliTrak, and antilock brake systems (ABS) for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice. GM plans to extend StabiliTrak to all of its passenger vehicles by 2010.
Using signals from sensors throughout the vehicle, ESC detects vehicle instability and determines the appropriate brake and throttle adjustments to help keep the vehicle on the road. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that widespread application of ESC in the vehicle fleet could save as many as 7,000 lives per year.