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ESC mandate ‘unfair’
Volvo takes issue with state push for standard
ESC after NCAP forces revisions to Swedish range
By DAVID HASSALL
VOLVO will fi nally – and belatedly, according
to some pundits – fi t standard electronic
stability control across its entire range in
Australia by the end of September.
Although more expensive Volvos already
have ESC (and all have a mechanical traction
control function), it will not be standard on
entry-level C30, S40, V50 and S60 models
until 2009 model year production commences
in June and reaches Australian showrooms in
August and September.
However, Volvo Cars Australia general
manager Alan Desselss has told GoAuto that the
company may have to raise prices as a result.
“At this stage we’re trying to hold the
price, but we’re going to struggle a bit,” he
said. “Exchange rate is the main thing. If
the currency remains strong, there’s a good
chance we’ll be able to absorb it.”
The Swedish car-maker, which prides itself as
the automotive leader in safety, has been forced
to make the move because the Australian New
Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) announced
last September that it would not award a fi vestar
crash rating without ESC from 2008.
“I think it would have been a natural
progression, but would we have done it right
now? Probably not,” said Mr Desselss.
He said that ESC was a very important safety
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A PRIL 16, 2008 Page 8
feature, especially for rear-wheel drive cars,
but took issue with the governments pushing
for it to be mandated without any assistance
for consumers.
“If all these cars are going to be that
much safer, there will be less road carnage
and therefore we should see a reduction in
insurance and in our road taxes,” he said.
“I think it is unfair that the motor manufacturers
are the ones who are going to have to absorb the
price or pass it onto the consumer.
Continued next page
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