WASHINGTON, (June 9, 2005) — New truck technology on Freightliner trucks was a big draw at parent company DaimlerChrysler’s Innovations Symposium in Washington.

The DaimlerChrysler Innovations Symposium is a showcase of pioneering automotive and commercial vehicle technologies held in conjunction with DaimlerChrysler’s Impact on America event in the U.S. capital.

The truckmaker was showcasing the latest developments in heavy-duty truck safety technology, including electronic stability control (ESC), electronically-controlled braking systems, radar collision warning with adaptive cruise control, Lane Guidance lane departure warning and a side visibility camera.

Installed on a Freightliner Class 8 demonstration truck, these active safety technologies are designed to help truck drivers safely operate the vehicle and to help avoid heavy-duty truck accidents.

“The Freightliner Group has pioneered the implementation of safety technology into North American heavy-duty trucks and we continue to evaluate advanced systems that demonstrate potential for enhancing commercial vehicle safety,” said Michael von Mayenburg, Freightliner Group senior vice-president of Engineering & Technology. “Following DaimlerChrysler’s vision of accident-free driving, the systems and technologies featured at the DaimlerChrysler Innovations Symposium are active safety technologies designed to prevent accidents from happening in the first place.”

Von Mayenburg pointed out that some of the systems on display at the Innovations Symposium are already available for production models, while some others are being evaluated in field tests.

The vehicle also featured a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for reducing diesel engine emissions.

EGR works by circulating cooled exhaust gas back into the engine air intake. This lowers combustion temperature and reduces the formation of NOx.