What GM, feds did
GM innovations
1973: Safety – Offered first airbags on production vehicles
1974: Emissions – Installed catalytic converters
1976: Fuel economy – Shrank mainstream full-sized cars
Government mandates
1977: Fuel economy – First federal standards took effect
1980-81: Emissions – Primary U.S. tailpipe pollution limits took full effect
1986-88: Safety – Federal passive-restraint requirement phased in (Compliance allowed with airbags or automatic belts)
When Dick Klimisch began working at General Motors in 1967, other GM engineers were trying to cut vehicle tailpipe pollution through mechanical engineering — changing the way engines ran. They weren't having much success.
