WASHINGTON, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Association of Global Automakers (Global Automakers) praisedConnecticut Governor Daniel Malloy for signing into law a bill that will make it a crime to knowingly sell or install a counterfeit or nonfunctional airbag in a vehicle.
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"This is a public safety issue that automakers take seriously, and we are pleased that Connecticut took the lead," said David Bauer, Global Automakers' manager of State Relations. "We hope that people will now think twice before knowingly and intentionally manufacturing, selling, or installing fake airbags."
Going into effect on October 1, the new law will make it a felony offense for anyone to install, manufacture, import, reinstall, or sell counterfeit airbags in the state of Connecticut. The law also prohibits installing a device to alter the vehicle's diagnostic system to make a counterfeit airbag appear to be functional. Global Automakers worked closely with the original bill sponsors, Representative Antonio Guerrera and Senator Andrew Maynard, in drafting this important legislation.
Last fall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert regarding certain counterfeit airbags in the marketplace that posed a risk of serious injury to the public. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts, NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment. The Association is working with NHTSA and state legislatures across the country to bring attention to this dangerous consumer issue.
The Association of Global Automakers represents international motor vehicle manufacturers, original equipment suppliers, and other automotive-related trade associations. We work with industry leaders, legislators, and regulators to create the kind of public policy that improves vehicle safety, encourages technological innovation, and protects our planet. Our goal is to foster a competitive environment in which more vehicles are designed and built to enhance Americans' quality of life. For more information, visit www.globalautomakers.org.
Contact: Annemarie Pender
202.650.5548 | apender@globalautomakers.org
SOURCE Global Automakers
