Laminated Glass Gaining Ground at 2006 North American International Auto Show

Approximately 1.3 million vehicles produced annually with laminated glass

DETROIT, Jan. 18 -- More than 40 production and concept vehicles on display at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) tout laminated glass in side and rear windows, as well as roof applications, as reported by the Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA). Laminated glass has become a mainstream technology in the automotive industry, with approximately 1.3 million vehicles produced annually with laminated glass.

  Production Vehicles
  Audi A8 W 12 Quattro               Ford GT            Maserati Quatroporte
  Bentley Continental Flying Spur    GMC Envoy Denali   Mercedes AMG S65
  Buick LaCrosse                     Jaguar XJ          Mercedes GL
  Buick Lucerne                      Jeep Commander     Mercedes R 350
  Buick Rainier                      Jeep Grand         Mercedes S-Class
                                      Cherokee Laredo
  Buick Rendezvous                   Jeep Grand         Porsche Cayenne
                                      Cherokee Limited   (roof)
  Cadillac STS                       Jeep Grand         Rolls Royce Phantom
                                      Cherokee Overland
  Cadillac STS V                     Jeep Grand         SAAB 9-7X
                                      Cherokee SRT 8
  Cadillac DTS                       Land Rover LR3     Subaru Outback
                                      (roof)             (roof)
  Chevy Trailblazer SS               Land Rover         Subaru Forester
                                      Range Rover        (roof)
  Chrysler Aspen                     Lexus 460          Volkswagen Phaeton
  Dodge Ram 1500                     Lincoln Navigator  Volvo XC70
  Dodge Ram Mega Cab                 Maybach 57

  Concept Vehicles
  Audi Road Jet                      General Motors Buick Enclave
  Ford Mustang Saleen (roof)         General Motors Chevrolet Camaro
  Ford Super Chief                   Saturn Aura

"It is the goal of the EPGAA to educate the industry and consumers on using laminated glass in applications other than windshields," said Mike Sanders, EPGAA President and director for DuPont Automotive Safety Systems. "We are pleased to see the continued increase in adoption of laminated glass; it shows that automakers and consumers alike are realizing the extended benefits of this technology."

Laminated glass is a high-impact resistant glass technology that automakers and car buyers have trusted for use in windshields for more than 60 years. In addition to windshield applications, laminated glass is being developed specifically for use in side and rear window, and roof applications.

Laminated glass provides four key benefits, to help protect vehicle occupants:

Safety

In addition to meeting global automotive safety standards, laminated glass could help save up to 1,300 lives annually and reduce occupant ejection -- according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Security

With a tough plastic interlayer or film composite, laminated glass provides significant increases to intrusion resistance -- enough to deter most would-be thieves.

Sound Reduction

The interlayer in laminated glass helps provide protection from outside wind and road noises, keeping the car interior quieter and more comfortable. This benefit allows automakers to offer consumers a vehicle with additional value without significantly increasing the cost of the vehicle. Acoustic studies note that laminated glass reduces interior noise by three to four decibels, allowing for better conversation and use of entertainment equipment.

Solar Protection

With the help of an available infrared (IR) reflective coating, laminated glass provides several benefits to the interior of vehicles. Testing has shown vehicles equipped with laminated glass parked in the sun with the windows closed may reduce the effects of solar heat by up to 18 degrees F (10 degrees C) compared to standard tempered glass.

Laminated glass also offers several benefits from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays to protect vehicle occupants and interiors from the damaging effects of the sun. UV rays cause interior vehicle fabrics to fade and degrade, leather to age, and plastic and vinyl to crack, which laminated glass can help to prevent. According to the Australian Radiation protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA), the laminated glass interlayer also screens up to 95 percent of damaging UV rays, providing a UV protection factor of 50+ SPF.

About the EPGAA

The Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA) is composed of laminate and glass providers to provide information and overall education on the development of laminated glass for added vehicle security, occupant comfort and safety. Currently, DuPont Automotive; Glasstech, Inc.; Guardian Industries Corp.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Sekurit; Sekisui America Corporation and Solutia Automotive are members of the EPGAA. For more information on the EPGAA, visit http://www.epgaa.com/ .