Bosch safety system once again receives award

Bosch has received the Global NCAP Award 2012 for developing and launching the ESP (Electronic Stability Program). The award, which is conferred by the Global New Car Assessment Programme. Wolfgang Hiller, President of the Bosch Chassis Systems

Control division in Japan, accepted the award on behalf of Bosch. The prize was handed over by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, a member of the British Royal Family.

Global NCAP’s rationale for this award was ESP’s high level of effectiveness, which, in the organisation’s view, means the active safety system is able to significantly reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities – thereby supporting the aims of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. The target of this United Nations campaign is to significantly limit the rise in the number of road deaths forecast for the period 2010 to 2020. ESP's importance is also recognised by the local NCAP organisation for the Asean nations, ASEAN NCAP, which was newly established at the meeting. The standard equipment with anti-skid system is a pre-requisite for the highest rating of five stars.

Since launching ESP in 1995, Bosch has delivered over 75-million such systems to automakers. ESP detects the onset of skidding and counteracts this by reducing engine power and through controlled braking of individual wheels. Studies have shown that this can prevent up to 80 per cent of all skidding accidents. ESP systems always include an ABS antilock braking system as well as a traction control system. By continuously working to improve the system, Bosch has succeeded in making it available for all vehicle classes – not least by incorporating numerous innovations that reduce cost.

ESP increasingly becoming mandatory
These days, roughly every second new vehicle worldwide comes off the production line fitted with ESP. While legal regulations have now ensured that the anti-skid system is generally standard equipment in the United States and Europe, and increasingly in Japan and Australia as well, installation rates for ESP in countries such as Brazil, China, India, and the Asean nations are still low. For these markets, Bosch also offers attractive entry-level versions featuring the most important basic functions.

But the development of ESP is by no means over. In particular, automakers can use the system as a basis for integrating high-performance assistance and safety systems, such as adaptive cruise control or emergency braking systems, into their vehicles.

Posted in: ASEAN,Award,Bosch,Electronic Stability Program,Euro NCAP,International,Wolfgang Hiller