At the Global Automobile Safety Conference, held in Shanghai on October 17, 12 brands under 9 Chinese automakers signed a safety commitment. In accordance with the commitment, these brands will make Electronic Stability Control (ESC) a standard feature for all new models.
Those 12 brands are BAIC Senova, Changan Motors, Great Wall’s Haval and WEY, Dongfeng Fengshen, Geely and LYNK&CO, GAC Trumpchi, SAIC Roewe and MG, FAW Hongqi and FAW Besturn.
ESC, also called VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) or ESP (Electronic Stability Program) by different companies, is a kind of active safety configurations and has a high cost. ESC can help the vehicle to avoid accidents and thus save people and vehicles by braking individual wheel or cut the engine’s power.
ESC plays a crucial role in reducing traffic accidents caused by driver fatigue or green driving skills. All vehicles sold in EU and America are required to equip ESC, but China hasn’t got such laws. In order to save cost and gain more profits, certain automakers haven’t made ESC standard for vehicles while those equipped with ESC become the so-called high-equipped ones.
12 marques taking the initiative to make ESC standard has a profound meaning. On the one hand, this move will force foreign auto brands to make this feature standard for new models, so Chinese customers can enjoy the same safety standard as western ones. On the other hand, those marques’ move can better the image of self-owned brands and increase their market shares.
