SHANGHAI, Aug. 15 -- THE owner of a Buick car is suing Shanghai GM in court, alleging the car he bought lacked the equipment listed on the firm's Website and user's manual.

Xuhui District People's Court has accepted the case but hasn't arranged a hearing date.

The buyer, surnamed Lang, asked the company to install the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on his Buick Royaum. Lang said it was a vital function for him, and without it, he wouldn't buy the car because of safety concerns.

Before buying the car, Lang asked car sellers, read the user's manual and checked online information on GM's official Website. All assured him that TPMS was standard equipment on the car.

Lang signed a purchase contract in April but was disappointed the car lacked the system when he received the car in June.

Lang once had a traffic accident with his Santana 2000 in 2002 due to the lack of TPMS. The loss of pressure of his left front tyre caused the car to run off the road and hit a crash barrier. His passenger suffered broken bones in the crash.

TPMS warns drivers of loss of tire pressure, which can help drivers avoid an accident.

When Lang contacted Shanghai GM, he was told that a clause in the user's manual or on the Website said standard equipment is subject to actual delivery.

Shanghai GM said yesterday that the company would negotiate with Lang. "Actually we gave him a favoured price, at least 60,000 yuan (US$7,895) lower than the marked price of 460,000 yuan," said Gong Guangjun.

An operator from the company's hotline said Royaums produced after 2005 don't have TPMS.