Bosch pledges support to UN road safety initiative
Bosch was awarded the Global NCAP Innovation Award 2012 for its efforts in developing electronic stability control systems (ESC). The company was also showcasing its latest developments in the field of road safety at the inaugural Southeast Asia Automotive Safety Week, organized by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in conjunction with the Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) 2012 annual meeting.
Herbert Hemming, President of the Bosch Corporation in Japan, who was invited to present at the Global NCAP Annual Meeting said, “There is a growing awareness of vehicle safety systems in emerging automotive markets, an aspect which is becoming a critical priority in the new vehicle purchase thought process of vehicle owners.”
The company is displaying its Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) modules at the event. Bosch was a pioneer developer of ESC technology and facilitated its introduction to the world in 1995 on the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class. ESC has become mandatory equipment for new cars sold in the United States and Europe, and before long, it is expected that Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Russia will follow suit. Currently, 48% of new passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles come fitted with ESC.
Commenting on the trend, Mr. Hemming noted that, “While the installation of ABS and ESC systems in new vehicles has been prevalent in Europe and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries, more still needs to be done to ensure that they are introduced by vehicle manufacturers in developing nations.”
Martin Hayes, President of Bosch Southeast Asia and Managing Director of Bosch Malaysia said, “I applaud MIROS’s initiative to include the installation of ESC as one of its 5-star criteria for the ASEAN NCAP standard. This marks a new benchmark for the industry in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia, and is a vital step in ensuring greater vehicle safety for consumers.”
Moving forward, Bosch has developed a new series production-ready ABS system specially for use in motorcycle of all types. The module’s compact dimensions makes it suitable for use in all motorcycle types. A study by Bosch based on data from GIDAS, the German database of accident statistics, comes to the conclusion that a quarter of accidents with injuries and fatalities could be prevented if ABS was standard equipment.
