Market development

The number of vehicles equipped with ESP® has increased steadily. In the first half of 2008, the share of newly registered passenger cars in Europe equipped with ESP® rose to 53 percent. In addition, the latest installation rate data shows that worldwide just under every third newly registered vehicle is equipped with ESP® at present. That acceptance of ESP® will continue to increase in the years to come as well. Whilst in the premium and medium car segment ESP® has long been considered a standard safety fitment, in small cars ESP® is usually offered as an option or not available at all. However, ESP® is just as important for small cars as for larger vehicles. Buyers should therefore be sure to ask for the safety system as an optional feature if it is not already on board as standard equipment.

Latest car registration (HY08) data for UK reports that 56 percent of all new cars are sold with ESP® systems on board. Unfortunately there are still gaps in the market where ESP® is not fitted. For example superminis account for a third of all new car sales but ESP® was only fitted as standard on 9 percent of vehicles and a further 5 percent as an added factory fitted option. The choice is clear Choose ESP®!

Find out whether your new car is equipped with the Electronic Stability Program ESP® by clicking on the link to the Thatcham website.