Saab Wins 2001 World Traffic Safety Achievement Award For Its Innovative Active Head Restraint System

    NEW YORK, May 21 Saab Automobile was recognized at the
2001 World Traffic Safety Symposium as the winner of the 2001 Safety
Achievement Award based on its development and implementation of the Saab
Active Head Restraint (SAHR).  This innovative system is designed to protect
front seat occupants against whiplash-related injuries resulting from a rear-
end collision.  This achievement award highlights Saab's continued commitment
to its real-life safety philosophy.
    
Saab wins 2001 honors

    Founded in 1990, the World Traffic Safety Symposium was formed to address
the growing concern of traffic injuries and fatalities on roadways.  The
Symposium is dedicated to bringing auto manufacturers, public and private
organizations, and the media together to share information and discuss
innovative ways to make automobile travel safer.

    Each year, the group gathers research and data from around the globe to
create a presentation of the most interesting and innovative advancements in
traffic safety.  Industry experts, journalists, and manufacturers are invited
to attend this showcase of the most cutting edge, life-saving safety features
available in vehicles today.

    Whiplash among leading medical costs

    "Over the past few years, safety agencies, insurance companies, and
manufacturers have gathered large amounts of data regarding the frequency and
severity of neck and cervical spine injuries," said Dr. David Viano, Saab's
Manager of Advanced Safety Research and Development.  "The U.S. Department of
Transportation estimates that there are over 800,000 cases of whiplash
annually in the U.S., with an average societal cost of 4.2 billion dollars.
In addition, more than half of the medical insurance compensation to car
accident victims is related to whiplash injuries."

    Saab developed a dynamic head restraint and seat back structure that is
designed to prevent neck and spine injuries that can cause long-term
disabilities.  Saab first introduced SAHR on its 9-5 model line in 1998 and
included the system as standard equipment on all model year 1999 vehicles
worldwide.

    Real-life crashes in Sweden from April, 1998 through September, 2000 have
been evaluated in a field study.  The results of this study are scheduled for
release in May -- however, early indications show positive results with a
significant reduction in long-term whiplash injury.

    How the SAHR works

    The SAHR system is entirely mechanical and is based on the lever
principle.  An upper padded support is connected to a pressure plate in the
backrest of the seat.  In certain rear collisions, the occupant's body is
typically forced by the crash pulse into the backrest, which moves the
pressure plate towards the rear.  Subsequently, the head restraint is designed
to move up and forward to "catch" the occupant's head before the violent
whiplash movement can start.

    The precise activation of the system is determined by the force with which
the front seat occupant's back is forced against the backrest, the magnitude
of the collision forces, and by the occupant's weight.  A major benefit of the
mechanical SAHR system is that in most accidents, it requires no post-
collision repairs to restore it to operational condition, unlike pyrotechnic
systems such as airbags.

    Real Life Safety Initiative

    The SAHR is an example of Saab's philosophy towards real-life safety.
Saab puts priority on systems and structures designed to protect Saab
occupants during a real-world collision.  Although Saab conducts numerous
crash tests -- including simulated animal collisions and truck-to-car side
impacts -- it is real-life collisions and their many variables that drive Saab
safety engineers and their work.

    "Real-life safety is what matters and is what we are continuously aiming
to improve," said Viano.  "That is why we are gratified with winning this
achievement award.  It is not based on a controlled test or a concept -- it is
based on performing well in the real world."

    Saab Cars USA, Inc. is the importer of Saab 9-5 and 9-3 automobiles for
Sweden-based Saab Automobile AB and is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia,
near Atlanta.