Continental Receives 2014 Automotive News PACE Award for Pedestrian Protection System

Pressure sensor-based Pedestrian Protection System (PPS pSAT) reduces pedestrian injuries in collisions.

- Continental earns third Automotive News PACE award in two years.

- This innovation will help automakers meet new pedestrian safety requirements in Europe, United States and Japan.

AUBURN HILLS and DETROIT, MI--April 8, 2014: Continental, a leading international automotive supplier, received the 2014 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers Contribution to Excellence) Award for its Pressure sensor-based Pedestrian Protection System (PPS pSAT). This marks Continental's third PACE Award win in just two years.

Continental's solution for pedestrian protection was initially developed to help European automakers and other manufacturers selling vehicles in Europe meet the upcoming Euro NCAP standards, which require enhanced measures to reduce injury in pedestrian collisions. With the United States, Japan and other key global markets implementing similar requirements, Continental set out to create a cost-effective solution, using pressure sensors and a flexible tube mounted behind the vehicle's front fascia. The PPS activates within 10-15 milliseconds of impact by slightly lifting the hood of the vehicle, thereby reducing pedestrian injury through energy absorption and deflection of the impact across the surface.

"In developing the Pedestrian Protection System, we accomplished our goal of engineering a pedestrian-protection solution for our automotive partners that not only complies with new and forthcoming safety standards in all major global markets, but can be implemented into their vehicles at a low cost and without any major design changes," said Amit Kapoor vice president of Continental's Passive Safety & Sensorics business unit in North America. "Winning the 2014 Automotive News PACE award for the PPS strengthens our drive towards the continued creation of solutions for automakers for years to come."

The PPS pSAT technology is easily installed in a variety of vehicle types thanks to its high flexibility in various front end designs. The PPS pSAT is designed to be resistant to environmental influences including electrostatic discharge, temperature, humidity and stray light. Additionally, the system provides weight and cost reduction compared to other pedestrian protection options currently on the market.

The Automotive News PACE Awards are judged independently and announced annually. This year's PACE Award ceremony was held at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit on Monday, April 7.

With sales of around €33.3 billion in 2013, Continental is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. As a provider of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs around 178,000 people in 49 countries.