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WABCO Welcomes Government Mandate in Brazil for Compulsory Anti-Lock Braking Systems on Commercial Vehicles Starting in 2013

^{Published on 2010-05-18 04:11:18 - Market Wire}
 

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - May 18, 2010) - WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: [ WBC ]) [[ www.wabco-auto.com ]], a global technology leader and tier-one supplier to the commercial vehicle industry, today announced its support for the Brazilian federal government's mandate that makes anti-lock braking systems (ABS) compulsory on new trucks, buses and trailers in a phased approach starting in 2013 to further increase vehicle and road safety.

The Brazilian government's new legislation will be applied nationally in two phases: starting in January 2013, 40 percent of commercial vehicles produced by each original equipment manufacturer must be equipped with ABS; as of January 2014, all new commercial vehicles must have ABS.

Presently, a small percentage of new commercial vehicles registered in Brazil are equipped with ABS. WABCO is by far the local market's leading technology supplier.

WABCO ABS prevents locking of a vehicle's wheels when road friction is not sufficient to transmit braking forces. WABCO pioneered ABS for commercial vehicles, the first system of its kind, which was launched in 1981 in volume production. As of 2009, WABCO has sold more than 5 million ABS systems worldwide.

"We welcome the Brazilian government's new regulation to equip trucks, buses and trailers with anti-lock braking systems starting in 2013 as it will significantly improve vehicle and road safety," said Jean-Christophe Figueroa, WABCO Vice President, Vehicle Dynamics and Control. "In our leadership position as an integrator of commercial vehicle safety and controls systems, we are passionate about the continued growth potential for WABCO ABS. ABS remains at the core of our portfolio of advanced safety technologies, including electronic braking and electronic stability control, among other innovations that also strongly contribute to driver effectiveness."

About WABCO

WABCO Vehicle Control Systems (NYSE: [ WBC ]) is a leading supplier of safety and control systems for commercial vehicles. For over 140 years, WABCO has pioneered breakthrough electronic, mechanical and mechatronic technologies for braking, stability, and transmission automation systems supplied to the world's leading commercial truck, trailer, and bus manufacturers. With sales of $1.5 billion in 2009, WABCO is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. For more information, visit [ www.wabco-auto.com ]