With the year 2000 fast approaching, car
buyers are increasingly asking about on-board computers and their ability to handle the
Millennium Bug, a shortcoming in programming which is predicted to render many computers
useless at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1999.Since the 1970s car
manufacturers have been turning to on-board electronics, which allow extremely precise
fuel metering and burning, to meet ever toughening emission laws while still returning
good fuel economy and power. That’s why, in 1998, the average car has more computing
power than existed in Apollo 11 when it went to the moon.
With computers controlling everything from spark plugs to engine immobilisers,
it’s not unreasonable for buyers to want to know if their car is going to start on
January 1, 2000.
If it’s a Kia, they will have no problems.
"None of the computers used in our vehicles rely on date-based software, so the
dawning of a new millennium will be just one more day in the life of all of our
models," said the general manager of Kia Motors Australia, David Hughes.
"Kias are built around solid reliability. By opting for electronic control systems
without a lot of complicated frills, we have kept our owners free of the hassles that may
be experienced with more complex, date-related vehicle software systems."
Mr Hughes said that Kia’s log of calls to its Customer Information Centre
reflected a growing concern among existing and intending Kia owners about the effects of
the Millennium Bug, known less formally as the Y2K Bug.
"Car buyers are a great deal more sophisticated than they were even 10 years ago,
and the fact that they are asking this question reflects what I suspect is a very deep
community concern about this issue," he said.
"I would encourage all car buyers, whether buying new or used, to satisfy
themselves on this point before they proceed with a purchase."
