Welcome to today's edition of the Daily 5.
Whenever new automotive safety devices or technology emerge, a debate quickly arises on whether they should be mandatory or optional. Ultimately, the discussion boils down to imperfect cost-benefit analyses that rest on the number of lives saved versus economic costs and complications. But some complications can be unforeseen.
That's the case with automatic emergency braking systems, which reporter Molly Boigon broadly examines today in three in-depth stories.
These systems clearly work. NHTSA estimates 362 lives are saved in the U.S. each year. Yet the systems carry flaws potentially involving millions of vehicles made by several automakers. False alarms — or phantom braking — generate recalls, injuries and litigation.
It's reminiscent of airbags, which date to the 1960s and save thousands of lives a year. But they can malfunction with tragic results. It took the industry decades to refine airbag technology to account for dangers posed to children and smaller vehicle occupants during accidents.
The largest recall in automotive history stems from lethal Takata airbags, which have been linked to at least 30 fatalities and hundreds of injuries over the last several years.
Yet airbags continue to be standard equipment and save thousands of lives. It's a good bet automatic emergency braking systems will follow the same pattern.
A couple of other stories to check out in today's report:
UAW members rallied against Stellantis today at the company's Sterling Heights Assembly Plant near Detroit amid strike threats. Reporter Michael Martinez covered. The story includes a photo of Stellantis Chairman John Elkann dining with CEO Carlos Tavares last night at a restaurant in suburban Detroit.
And we have this report about another key executive parting ways with Tesla Inc.
Looking ahead to Monday, we will have the next installment of our Future Product Pipeline series. We'll be focusing on the Ford and Lincoln brands.
That's it for now. Have a great weekend!
