Valeo Equips the Mercedes A and B Class With its StARS Micro-Hybrid System

PARIS, July 15 -- Valeo announces today that its StARS micro-hybrid system equips the new Mercedes A and B class.

Invented by Valeo, this system featuring the Stop-Start function, cuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill, at traffic lights for instance, and then restarts it quickly and silently when the driver releases the brake pedal. It provides average of fuel savings of 9%.

"This technology meets end user needs for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, at affordable cost," says Valeo's Chairman & CEO, Thierry Morin.

Ever growing urban populations are making cities increasingly congested. The usefulness of the Stop-Start function becomes evident as it is estimated that, in cities, a car spends up to one-third of its time at a standstill with the engine idling unnecessarily. Under these conditions of congested city driving, fuel savings can achieve 25%. Valeo expects the system to become widely available on all types of vehicles worldwide

Valeo's micro-hybrid system already equips the Citroen C2 and C3 and the smart mhd. Valeo has also won a contract from PSA Peugeot Citroen to equip more than a million vehicles with StARS by 2011.

Valeo is an independent industrial group dedicated to the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. It is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. The Group has 122 production sites, 61 R&D centers, 9 distribution platforms, and employs 60,000 people in 27 countries.