From November 1, 2011, all new car and light commercial vehicle models in the EU must be equipped with the anti-skid system ESP« (Electronic Stability Program). The corresponding EU regulation applies to all vehicles with type approvals issued after this date. ESP« will subsequently become compulsory in all new EU vehicles from October 31, 2014.

Making ESP« compulsory is part of a comprehensive European Commission strategy to improve road safety. "ESP« can prevent up to 80 percent of all skidding accidents. It is the most important vehicle safety system after the seat belt", says Dr. Werner Struth, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division. Bosch developed ESP« and in 1995, it was the first company worldwide to start series production. By 2010, 41 percent of all cars and light commercial vehicles weighing less than six metric tons that rolled off the world's production lines were equipped with the system. And some 63 percent of all cars and commercial vehicles manufactured in Europe had ESP«.

ESP« in every second new vehicle across the globe by 2013
Since 1995, Bosch has played a key role in ensuring the widespread use of ESP« by delivering more than 50 million systems worldwide. It is expected that every second new car across the globe will have ESP« by 2013.