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Volkswagen And Tongji University Initiate Accident Research Project In China


May 2005
 Filed under: VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE Car News | VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE Headlines

Cooperation agreement signed in Shanghai

Shanghai - Wolfsburg, 9. May 2005 - Working together with Tongji University in Shanghai, Volkswagen is the first car manufacturer in China to initiate an accident research project. The project aims to increase road safety in China through improved coordination of vehicle manufacture, transport infrastructure and driving behaviour. A cooperation agreement was signed in Shanghai today by Prof. Yu Zhuoping, Head of the Automobile School at the University, Matthias Rabe, Head of Group Research at Volkswagen AG, and Dr. Zhang Suixin, Member of the Board of Management at Volkswagen Group China.
Prof. Dr. Folker WeiĂźgerber, Member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management with responsibility for the China region, Christian Wulff, Prime Minister of the German state of Lower Saxony, and representatives from the city of Shanghai were all present at the signing ceremony.

“Volkswagen takes its responsibility for all road users seriously. We can never eliminate the risk of accidents but we can take suitable measures to make sure that we reduce both the number of them and their effects. The accident research project initiated today is an important part of our commitment to better road safety in China”, said Weißgerber. “Volkswagen vehicles have already achieved a high standard of safety. However, safety research must continue in order to highlight areas for further improvement”, he added.

Volkswagen and Tongji University will put together a multi-disciplinary team of people from the areas of vehicle development, medicine and psychology for the agreed four month project. Volkswagen is financing the project and is providing both its experience and a member of the accident research team in Germany. Volkswagen will also supply a Touran modified by Shanghai Volkswagen for the project, which is fitted with all the auxiliary items for this special task.

Working in close cooperation with the local police, hospitals and transport authorities, teams will work alternate shifts at accident sites collecting and evaluating information on accident causes, any evidence at the scene, vehicle deformation and the results of the accident. The studies will not only focus on vehicles and road conditions but also on the driver and their driving behaviour and the behaviour of other road users, with a view to exploring the possibility of long-term accident research.

“Analysis of road traffic accidents plays an important part in Group research at Volkswagen in Germany. Comprehensive crash tests and crash simulations are also part of this area of work”, said Matthias Rabe. The knowledge gained from this is used to further improve the high standards of Volkswagen vehicles which meet customer demands for a safe car. Volkswagen already has extensive experience thanks to its own accident research in Germany, which also uses international statistics. However, the fast developing road traffic in China presents research teams with a particular challenge, continued Rabe.

Dr. Zhang said that safety was already important for Volkswagen in China. As part of its involvement in the 2008 Olympic Games with the motto “Green Olympics, High-Tech Olympics, People’s Olympics”, the company will be working together with the Beijing Olympic Games Committee on long-term road safety projects. In addition to the high safety standards in both vehicles manufactured in China and imported vehicles, the company also offers “Volkswagen Experience”, during which professional trainers give special courses on how to avoid and how to cope with hazardous traffic situations.

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