TOYOTA TO MAKE 4-WHEEL ABS, SRS AIR BAGS AND 3-POINT REAR SEAT BELTS AVAILABLE ON ALL ITS DOMESTIC PASSENGER CARS

Toyota City―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today that the company will be making four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), air bags and three-point rear seat belts available as standard or optional equipment on all of its domestic passenger cars over the next two years.

Toyota first introduced two-wheel ABS in 1970 on its luxury executive sedan, the Crown, after which it was gradually extended to other models in the company's lineup. In 1983, Toyota again used the Crown, this time to bring out four-wheel ABS, and in November of last year the system made its way for the first time to a Toyota subcompact with the introduction of the new Starlet. Within the year, Toyota plans to make the system available on all its passenger cars in Japan.

The SRS (supplemental restraint system) air bag system, like ABS, was also first adopted at Toyota with the Crown, this time in the August 1989 minor change that added a V8 model to the lineup. Air bags are currently provided as standard equipment on all models of the Celsior, Toyota's top-of-the-line passenger car launched last October, and as an option on the new Celica, Carina ED, Corona EXiV, and Corona Sedan. Over the next two years, Toyota plans to introduce the system across its full range of cars with each full or minor model change.

Finally, Toyota will also begin mounting three-point rear seat belts in all of its domestic passenger cars over the next two years. As of 1989, the seat belts were provided on about 32% of all domestic Toyota passenger cars sold.