Grand (R) Jeep Cherokee

Photo: DaimlerChrysler

"The Grand Cherokee was our No. 1 seller outside North America for the first time in May, while 300M sales continue to pick up speed," said Theodor R. Cunningham, Executive Vice President, International and Latin America and General Manager Chrysler Truck Operations. "We're seeing a gradual easing of the Asian and Latin American economic crises, which should mean continued sales momentum going forward."

Sales totaled 9,886 in Europe, an 11 percent jump over May 1998's 8,931. Latin America sales were 3,745, a 24 percent dip from May 1998's 4,907. Bright spots, however, included both Brazil and Puerto Rico; Brazil seeing a 41 percent climb, Puerto Rico an 18 percent rise. In addition, the Dodge Dakota and the Grand Cherokee both realized sales increases in Latin America for the month, Dakota posted sales of 537, compared to 149 in May 1998; and Grand Cherokee was at 1,320 versus 1,111 for the same period last year. In other regions, Asia Pacific sales were 1,647, a 47 percent decrease and Middle East Africa, with sales of 1,039, a 4 percent dip from May 1998.

June 04, 1999 - As a significant contributor to automobile safety, Renault is working on new technological systems strongly oriented toward "safety for all": starting with the user to develop new technologies rather than the other way round, and installing this equipment in all vehicles rather than just at the top of the range.

For Renault, this systematic approach involves not only listening to vehicle users by way of conventional customer surveys, but just as much of considering the driver-vehicle relationship by means of more in-depth studies. The objective: to place the customer and their needs at the centre of the vehicle development process.

A new generation of active and passive safety systems, intended to equip the next models in the range, will therefore appear from 2000 onwards: new adaptive airbags, the double-pretensioner adaptive safety belt, and Renault Emergency Braking Assistance will complement ESP (dynamic driving control), ASR (traction control), and a tyre pressure monitoring system developed in partnership with Michelin.

Renault is also previewing the work it has carried out on frontal airbags for the back seats, and a Renault-developed Dynamic Driving Control system. Where research is concerned, interactive safety will be another challenge for the future, built around work carried out on systems such as anti-collision, Stop and Go, SAGE, and Adams/AIDA.