Continental showcases 2-wheeler safety technologies at BIC

Continental’s solution for smaller motorcycles and scooters, a one-channel ABS called MiniMAB was demonstrated at the event. MiniMAB is a small and lightweight solution for small 2-wheelers, which prevents the front wheel from locking up in case of sudden braking by the driver, thus avoiding an accident or the vehicle becoming instable.

Also demonstrated was the MK 100 MAB, the next generation of the existing two-channel ABS system. This is significantly smaller, lighter, and more easily applicable to new types of motorcycles – and the system is also more price competitive. In the standard configuration, the new MK 100 MAB includes ABS and a function that recognizes when the rear wheel has lost contact with the road (Rear-Wheel Lift-Off Protection, RLP).

“With one of the world’s highest numbers of road accidents and fatalities, India has to adopt relevant technologies, implement regulation and ensure enforcement to realize Vision Zero - Zero Fatalities, Zero Injuries, Zero Accidents. Today’s crash avoidance technologies are capable of preventing many types of vehicle collision before they happen. Continental has partnered with Global NCAP’s for Stop the Crash to create awareness of these life-saving technologies,” explained Prashanth Doreswamy, Head of Continental India.

According to Krishan Kohli, Head of Continental’s Vehicle Dynamics business in India, “Thanks to legislation and increasing acceptance of safety technologies, India is emerging as an important market for airbags, ABS and ESC. Continental already produces ABS and ESC units in India. Active R&D on safety technologies is also carried out in India, at our in-house R&D center Technical Centre India (TCI).”

“Two-wheelers account for a large percentage of road accidents; therefore technologies such as ABS should be non-negotiable. Yet another technology is the ESC, which is one of the most important crash avoidance systems currently available for passenger cars. There is enough data from mature markets that quantify how safety technologies save lives and reduce fatal injuries,” he added.

Continental set up a line for localisation of ABS assembly, besides ESC systems, at its existing plant in Gurgaon in 2016. This plant recently reached the 1 million units milestone for Electronic Brake Systems (EBS). In 2018, the company introduced production line for ABS ECU localization in its Bangalore plant. The technology company has been continuously evaluating possibilities to localize further. Recently, Continental also announced a new facility for its R&D center in Gurgaon, dedicated exclusively to its brake systems business.