P.M. BRIEFING : Asian Cars Hit in Air-Bag Report

Five Asian car makers rank at the bottom in providing and promoting air bags in their 1990 cars, a coalition of auto safety and consumer groups said today.

The groups ranked Chrysler Corp. at the top among 12 major manufacturers selling cars in the United States, followed by Mercedes-Benz. Chrysler is putting air bags in the driver’s side of 92% of its 1990 models.

Hyundai and Subaru, which do not have air bags in any models, ranked at the bottom of the auto safety groups’ “report card,” followed by Honda. Other low-ranking manufacturers included Mazda and Nissan, which placed eighth and ninth.

Three million of the 10 million 1990 cars expected to be sold in the United States will have air bags under federal rules, according to a report compiled by Public Citizen, the Center for Auto Safety and Motor Voters.