There is slow progress being made on standard fitment of ESC in the UK car market, says the British Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham).
UK fitment lags behind EU
New research released on 25 July 2007 by Thatcham reveals that only 47% of cars in the UK were fitted with ESC as standard across the range, compared to 40% in 2006. This compares poorly with 58% in Germany and 75% in Sweden. This level of fitment remains disappointing, since approximately 380 lives could be saved annually if the UK motorist had the same fitment levels as those in Scandinavia.
 
2006 2007
50% of new car models introduced to the UK market in the last year still do not have ESC fitted as standard across the range, despite mounting international pressure. Of those models that did not offer ESC as standard in 2006 and were updated or face-lifted over the last year, around half have not had their level of ESC fitment increased, despite the opportunity to fit this essential safety technology.
In Sweden, both Vauxhall (Opel) and Toyota are now supplying every car in their entire model range with ESC fitted as standard. However, in the UK, the ESC fitment on Vauxhalls and Toyotas is sadly lacking, with only two models from each of these ranges sold with ESC as standard.
Poor fitment for fleets
With fleet sales accounting for the majority of new car sales in the UK each year, business leaders are experiencing a difficult choice when choosing vehicles that will protect their drivers as only 2 models, the Volkswagen Golf and Passat, from the top 10 models based on non-private car sales in 2006, have ESC fitted as standard.
Manufacturers must do more
Matthew Avery, Thatcham's Crash Research Manager comments "Whilst we have seen some improvement of fitment levels Thatcham's message to vehicle manufacturers' is: you know ESC can make a real difference in preventing accidents occuring, you have an obligation to fit this technology as standard across all your model ranges. ESC is a fundamental safety device; think seat belts, think airbags, think ESC!"
Download the ESC fitment rates for the UK here  pdf (3339 KB) |
