General Motors Corp. says it will make anti-lock brakes standard on nearly two-thirds of its 1992-model cars and that all its passenger cars will have air bags in 1995.
Anti-lock brakes automatically apply and release pressure on the brakes, allowing the driver to steer even during a panic stop.Ford Motor Co. said about 15 percent of the 1992-model cars it expects to sell will have anti-lock brakes as standard equipment and about half of Ford's cars will have it as an option.
Chrysler Corp. spokesman Tom Kowaleski said about 7 percent of that company's cars are offered with anti-lock brakes. He declined to estimate the percentage for 1992 models.
Meanwhile GM, the No. 1 U.S. automaker, says all of its passenger cars will include air bags on both the driver and passenger sides starting with the 1995 models, one year earlier than planned. Driver-side air bags will be standard in 1994 model GM minivans.
GM President Lloyd Reuss said his company developed a cheaper way to make anti-lock brakes, prompting the company to add the system to a wide line of cars, including such lower-priced models as the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird.
He said he expected the company to sell more than 1 million 1992-model cars equipped with standard anti-lock brakes systems.
Anti-lock systems will be standard on about 64 percent of the 1992-model cars GM expects to sell and optional on about 20 percent. GM currently equips about 20 percent of its cars with anti-lock brakes systems.