The Commission wants to see ESC in all cars from 2012

The European Commission outlined on 18 September 2007 in Versailles, France the new plans to accelerate the drive for safer, cleaner and smarter cars. The Commission will start negotiations with the European and Asian automotive industry associations to reach an agreement on making Electronic Stability Control available in all new cars from 2012. Europe has so far advocated a voluntary approach, addressing specifically user demand as a faster way to market. An international agreement on Global Technical Regulation, including the technical requirements of ESC, is being negotiated along with the US as a preparation phase for the installation of ESC into new passenger cars. Concerning heavy vehicles, there is a proposal for provisions for ESC to be implemented into the UNECE Regulation 13 that will most probably enter into force in autumn 2008.

The Commission will launch in 2007 an internet consultation on how to speed up the availability of ESC on a wide range of vehicles, including its mandatory equipment. It will also further promote the take-up of other life-saving technologies and investigate how technology can help make cars greener and smarter. Meanwhile the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations is working on a Global Technical Regulation for ESC. This will define standards for testing and implementing the technology and could provide the basis for global use of ESC on all new cars worldwide by 2012.      

More information on the Commission strategy can be found in the communication “Towards Europe-wide Safer, Cleaner and Efficient Mobility: The First Intelligent Car Report”: Intelligent car.pdf (55 KB)