Technology to prevent worker injuries and fatigue, the introduction of a collision repair network, and the start of a joint research effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions were among the items promoted by automakers recently.

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[naviga:li]Ford recently highlighted its efforts to improve the safety of its employees, saying workers in 15 plants will now have access to upper body exoskeleton technology. The EksoVest is designed to prevent injuries caused by repetitive overhead actions, such as securing bolts on a vehicle's undercarriage. Workers wearing the vest receive lift assistance of five to 15 pounds per arm. Ford also noted how workers in an engine assembly plant in Spain have started using suits equipped with body tracking technology, and will use data from these suits to instruct employees on their posture and develop work stations that create less physical strain.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]General Motors is rolling out a resource to help its customers get assistance as quickly as possible after a collision. The GM Collision Repair Network, introduced at a trade show in Atlanta, helps drivers find repair facilities that offer original equipment replacement parts and technicians who are skilled in working on a particular type of vehicle. The network also includes standards for things such as repair procedure and pre- and post-repair scanning.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Mazda has announced the start of a joint study to improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The automaker is partnering with Saudi Aramco and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The former organization will work to develop a fuel that produces lower emissions during the oil refining process, while the latter organization—along with Mazda—will work to develop a more efficient engine to work with the fuel. The automaker says this is part of its effort to focus on "well-to-wheel" fuel efficiency instead of improving just automotive efficiency.[/naviga:li]

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