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Despite
the company’s financial woes, Delphi is forging ahead internally and has announced a new product that may
revolutionize the packaging of subsystems located behind your dash. The Steel Hybrid Cross-car beam integrates the
cross-car structure, HVAC ducting, airbag system, steering column and electrical component supports into one single
steel beam.
The integration of all these subsystems into one component drastically reduces a vehicle’s
part count, saves weight and eliminates many prior sources for squeaks and rattles. The new cross-beam is production
ready and Delphi hopes to have it available for the 2009 model year.