[article]Safety to Push up Car Prices by Thousands...

mike65

Ha! Another pre-emptive stike by motor maufacturers suggesting that keeping pesky pedestrians alive will means huge hikes in car prices...

from www.unison.ie

NEW EU measures could add upwards of €5,000 to the price of a car, a senior motoring figure warned yesterday.

The EU measures include a directive that within three years cars have to offer more protection for pedestrians in the event of a crash.

Ford of Britain chairman Roget Putnam warned that the new directives could begin to affect the cost of cars to consumers within a few years.

Experts say the new measures underline the need for regulators and the motor industry to work closely together to ensure regulations are introduced in an intelligent manner.

The EU says the measures are important to improve safety for drivers and passengers.

Mr Putnam said that, like other manufacturers, Ford is striving to meet the required pedestrian protection levels.

...I always supect safety costs are used as a cloak for sqeezing a little more profit out of a sale...

Mike.

DukeDredd

Not to mention the effect it'll have on the overall look of the cars. Isn't the new Honda Civic designed in a way that when it hits a pedestrian that the front of it is so low it'll hit them in the legs and send them onto the bonnett to cushion the fall? Think i saw that on top gear when the car was released.

leeroybrown

The car manufacturers will add a mark up to their costs so higher costs will probably mean higher profits per car. THis will probably just offset a reduction in demand brought about by more expensive cars.

Gmodified

and then what's left from the production will be imported to IRL. where new car price will look like phone number and your insurance will depend on number of airbags