Electronic Stability Control

Slow progress on standard ESC fitment
There is slow progress being made on standard fitment of ESC in the UK car market. In 2006 Thatcham reported that only 40% of cars were fitted with ESC as standard across the range, however this year it has risen to 47%. Thatcham recommends that manufacturers should make ESC standard fit across the model range to help prevent the risk of collisions.

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.

2006	Not available at all  Optional accross entire range  Standard across entire range  Combination of fitment
2007

UK fitment lags behind EU
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. It is clear that the UK has a lower fitment than other European Countries, as shown by the data published by Folksam and GDV. These studies show that the proportion of models with ESC fitted as standard across the range is 58% in Germany, and 75% in Sweden, but only 47% in the UK.

Poor fitment for fleets
Fleet and business sales account for the majority of new car sales in the UK each year. However, from the top 10 models based on non-private car sales in 2006, only 2 models (Volkswagen Golf and Passat) have ESC fitted as standard. Thatcham recommends that fleet buyers should purchase models with ESC fitted as standard, and should purchase it as an option at extra cost if necessary.