Bosch, the developers of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) technology, supports the call from Which? magazine to have the technology fitted as standard equipment on all new cars sold across Europe. ESP is considered by many road safety professionals to be the most important safety system development since the introduction of the seat belt. Bosch was also responsible for developing antilock braking system (ABS) now standard fit on all cars produced and sold in Western Europe. Independent reports have suggested that fitment of ESP to cars could reduce skidding accidents by up to 30%.

Fitment rates for ESP on cars vary from country to country. The European average is 39%, in the UK, according to Bosch, it is 34%. This compares with 80% for Germany.

As one of the first signatories to the EU Road Safety Charter – a commitment to halve the current number of deaths on European roads from 50,000 to 25,000 by 2010 – Bosch has undertaken to raise the awareness and promote the benefits of ESP as part of its contribution to the Charter.

Bosch media enquiries:

Chris Wakley/ David Eden
Automotive PR
Tel: 020 7494 8050
Email: cwakley@automotivepr.com / deden@automotivepr.com

Bosch OE enquiries:

Beverley Daniels
Communications Manager
Robert Bosch Limited
Tel: 01895 878155
Email: beverley.daniels@uk.bosch.com

About Bosch

The Bosch Group is the world’s largest provider of automotive technology to all leading vehicle and component manufacturers. 

In 2005, the company generated automotive sales of €26 billion and employs 158,000 people in this sector.  The key business areas include: fuel injection technology (diesel & petrol); systems for active and passive vehicle safety (brakes, ABS, traction control, ESP, control units for restraint systems); electrical motors, rotating electrics and products for car multimedia.