Survey: Safety top concern of automakers.(News)

Plastics News, March, 2004

Byline: Rhoda Miel While cost may be of top concern to automakers and suppliers, engineers believe that consumers are most keyed in to safety. Chemical giant DuPont Co.'s annual survey of automakers and suppliers attending the Society of Automotive Engineers 2004 World Congress, held March 8-11 in Detroit, typically shows cost reduction topping the list of worries within the industry.

This year is no exception, with 33 percent of those surveyed listing price, compared with 13 percent for safety and 12 percent each for alternative powertrains and fuel economy. When it comes to what they believe drivers want, though, engineers and others said safety is tops, with 66 percent listing it as No. 1 for consumers, compared with 47 percent for better vehicle...

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