VOLKSWAGEN RECEIVES TOP SAFETY PICK AWARDS FROM THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

HERNDON, Va. – A total of four Volkswagen models are the latest of the company’s offerings to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2008, the highest rating possible from the non-profit research organization. IIHS recognized the 2009 Volkswagen Eos, Jetta, Passat, and Rabbit each as a TOP SAFETY PICK. Earlier this year Volkswagen’s all-new Sport Compact Utility Vehicle, Tiguan, was also named a TOP SAFETY PICK.
The ratings from IIHS also apply to the 2009 Jetta Sportwagen and the 2009 Passat Wagon.
“Safety is a top priority at Volkswagen and this recognition by the IIHS highlights that we are a market leader in offering some of the safest vehicles on the road today,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Our Prevent and Preserve Safety System, standard on Volkswagen vehicles, is an important factor in the high level of safety and protection in our vehicles.”
The TOP SAFETY PICK award recognizes vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute’s front, side and rear crash test evaluations, and includes only vehicles with electronic stability control (branded Electronic Stabilization Program on Volkswagen vehicles) and head protection airbags.
Volkswagen seeks to provide a high level of occupant protection in all its vehicles through a comprehensive and evolving approach to vehicle safety. Volkswagen was the first non-luxury manufacturer to include an electronic stability control system at no additional cost on every 2009 vehicle it sells – ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) deadline requiring all 2012 model year vehicles to have such systems. Volkswagen’s electronic stability control technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control and rollovers to avoid crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if automakers included stability systems as standard equipment.
The Prevent and Preserve Safety System portfolio for MY2009 consists of important safety features, all of which contribute to protecting the driver and passengers as well as possible, helping avoid crashes and keeping the severity and consequences of possible crashes to a minimum.