Ferrari F430 Sales May Be Banned in U.S. for Airbag Issues(UPDATE -exempted now)
01-15-06, 11:10 AM
#1
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Ferrari F430 Sales May Be Banned in U.S. for Airbag Issues(UPDATE -exempted now)
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=108934
EXCLUSIVE: Ferrari F430 Sales May Be Banned in U.S. for Airbag Issues
Date posted: 01-14-2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government may ban sales of Ferrari's bread-and-butter F430 in late 2006 unless the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants the company a waiver on airbag requirements.
It isn't that the F430's airbags aren't safe — they meet or exceed most NHTSA guidelines. But the F430 lacks sufficient protection for a small number of female occupants who aren't strapped into the correct position in the event of a crash. The same problem applies to child occupants. If the waiver isn't granted, Ferrari will be unable to sell cars built after September 1, 2006.
NHTSA suggested the company accelerate production and stockpile pre-September 1 cars to keep dealers supplied with cars for the two remaining years in the F430's production cycle, but Ferrari pointed out that it is already building the cars as quickly as it can to meet demand.
In its petition, Ferrari details its plans to continue the F430 line until late 2008, when it will "be replaced by a newly designed eight-cylinder model." What that means for rumors of a possible 10-cylinder Lamborghini Gallardo fighter isn't clear.
Lotus initially expected it would need a similar waiver to sell the Elise in the U.S., but ultimately found it could meet the requirement with off-the-shelf airbag technology. Ferrari, on the other hand, says in its petition that it has extensively tested available components without success. "The issue is not one of cost, but one of impossibility," the document states. (Emphasis added by Ferrari in its filing.)
"We focused on the work that had been done in an attempt to comply," observed Ferrari North American Corporate General Council Dave Wertheim. "We think there is a very high degree of safety in the car," he emphasized.
When the wheels of the federal bureaucracy will churn out a decision is anybody's guess. "There is no expected timetable," said Wertheim. What do Ferrari's oddsmakers think it'll decide? "We're cautiously optimistic," he said.
Waivers have typically been considered the realm of tiny startups and importers of limited numbers of unusual cars. Even though Lotus complied with the airbag requirement, the Elise still required waivers for other elements, such as lighting. The Crosslander SUV under consideration from Romania, for example, will require a waiver for its complete absence of any airbags, which is a much taller order than Ferrari's request.
Ferrari points out that only 13 percent of its owners have children under the age of 6, so that it is unlikely that many kids will ride in one of the waived cars. Further, the company pledges to provide, free of charge to any customer who requests it, a special child seat which will automatically deactivate the passenger's side airbag. The cars will also feature a manual cutoff switch for the passenger's side airbag.
If the notion of buying a Ferrari child seat sounds attractive, hold on. At this point that child seat is entirely hypothetical, says Wertheim, and even then it would only be available to those who own the car.
What this means to you: It's an interesting look at all the legal wrangling automakers must go through to sell cars in this country. But it does beg the question as to why Ferrari let this coming regulatory deadline approach without making the necessary improvements.
EXCLUSIVE: Ferrari F430 Sales May Be Banned in U.S. for Airbag Issues
Date posted: 01-14-2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government may ban sales of Ferrari's bread-and-butter F430 in late 2006 unless the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants the company a waiver on airbag requirements.
It isn't that the F430's airbags aren't safe — they meet or exceed most NHTSA guidelines. But the F430 lacks sufficient protection for a small number of female occupants who aren't strapped into the correct position in the event of a crash. The same problem applies to child occupants. If the waiver isn't granted, Ferrari will be unable to sell cars built after September 1, 2006.
NHTSA suggested the company accelerate production and stockpile pre-September 1 cars to keep dealers supplied with cars for the two remaining years in the F430's production cycle, but Ferrari pointed out that it is already building the cars as quickly as it can to meet demand.
In its petition, Ferrari details its plans to continue the F430 line until late 2008, when it will "be replaced by a newly designed eight-cylinder model." What that means for rumors of a possible 10-cylinder Lamborghini Gallardo fighter isn't clear.
Lotus initially expected it would need a similar waiver to sell the Elise in the U.S., but ultimately found it could meet the requirement with off-the-shelf airbag technology. Ferrari, on the other hand, says in its petition that it has extensively tested available components without success. "The issue is not one of cost, but one of impossibility," the document states. (Emphasis added by Ferrari in its filing.)
"We focused on the work that had been done in an attempt to comply," observed Ferrari North American Corporate General Council Dave Wertheim. "We think there is a very high degree of safety in the car," he emphasized.
When the wheels of the federal bureaucracy will churn out a decision is anybody's guess. "There is no expected timetable," said Wertheim. What do Ferrari's oddsmakers think it'll decide? "We're cautiously optimistic," he said.
Waivers have typically been considered the realm of tiny startups and importers of limited numbers of unusual cars. Even though Lotus complied with the airbag requirement, the Elise still required waivers for other elements, such as lighting. The Crosslander SUV under consideration from Romania, for example, will require a waiver for its complete absence of any airbags, which is a much taller order than Ferrari's request.
Ferrari points out that only 13 percent of its owners have children under the age of 6, so that it is unlikely that many kids will ride in one of the waived cars. Further, the company pledges to provide, free of charge to any customer who requests it, a special child seat which will automatically deactivate the passenger's side airbag. The cars will also feature a manual cutoff switch for the passenger's side airbag.
If the notion of buying a Ferrari child seat sounds attractive, hold on. At this point that child seat is entirely hypothetical, says Wertheim, and even then it would only be available to those who own the car.
What this means to you: It's an interesting look at all the legal wrangling automakers must go through to sell cars in this country. But it does beg the question as to why Ferrari let this coming regulatory deadline approach without making the necessary improvements.
. . . . . good that I can't afford one anyway . . . . . .
01-15-06, 12:04 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
First the do gooders said automakers had to add airbags.
Then the do gooders say wait, they're too powerful and can take people's heads off in certain circumstances so you must make them explode with less force if a light passenger is in the seat.
A Canadian friend said in Canada it's mandatory for a switch to turn OFF the airbags.
SHUT UP! The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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01-15-06, 05:27 PM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
I think a airbag turnoff option should suffice. I'd be really sad to see the F430 banned. I think the Corvette Z06, as far as performance goes, is the best bargain hands down. However, i've always thought that EVERYTHING taken into account.... speed, handling, driving dynamics, prestige, design, emotion, sound, panty-wetting ability.... everything, that the F430 may be the most incredible car produced for the money. I'm sure people lucky enough to get their hands on 430's so far would be loving their resale value if the supply gets tightened up that much.
01-16-06, 12:08 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Originally Posted by Richie
LOL, Mike, where are you going to put the Chef then??
01-17-06, 05:27 AM
#13
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This is lame...if a person can spend over 200 big ones, I'm sure they can get custom seats fitted that will work with the belt/harnass...more gov't b.s.. I'm sure in typical Italian style, they will tell the U.S. to go smoke a pole.
05-22-06, 07:15 AM
#14
Super Moderator
Relief! Ferrari 430 gets airbag exemption
In January, we reported that the U.S. federal government was considering banning further sales of the Ferrari F430 in the U.S. after the 2006 model year because its frontal passenger airbag didn’t provide sufficient protection for some women and children in abnormal seating positions. At the time, a company spokesperson said it would be impossible to fix the problem without a major interior redesign. Today, Automotive News is reporting that the U.S. government has given Ferrari a break on the airbag rules. The car will not have to comply with the regulations for the 2007 or 2008 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided.
source : leftlanenews
source : leftlanenews
05-22-06, 08:46 AM
#15
Originally Posted by LexArazzo
In January, we reported that the U.S. federal government was considering banning further sales of the Ferrari F430 in the U.S. after the 2006 model year because its frontal passenger airbag didn’t provide sufficient protection for some women and children in abnormal seating positions. At the time, a company spokesperson said it would be impossible to fix the problem without a major interior redesign. Today, Automotive News is reporting that the U.S. government has given Ferrari a break on the airbag rules. The car will not have to comply with the regulations for the 2007 or 2008 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided.
source : leftlanenews
source : leftlanenews
