Bosch brake innovations: providing safety for more than 90 years

For more than 90 years, numerous patents and product innovations have lucidly shown that hardly anyone else knows brake systems as well as Bosch. This extraordinary competence is also reflected in the almost complete range of brake components.

Back in the 1920s, automotive brakes could hardly cope with the engine performance and the weight of the vehicles of that time. In 1927, Bosch presented the pneumatic servo brake cutting the brake distance of trucks by one third. Furthermore a patent filed as early as 1936 laid the basis for the modern anti-lock braking system (ABS) although its series production only started in 1978.

The traction control system (TCS) and the electronic stability program (ESP®) are also based on the ABS developed by Bosch. The ESP® launched 25 years ago constantly analyzes vehicle movements and the steering angle. If it detects risk of skidding or slipping, it takes over and stabilizes the vehicle. By now it has become a statutory requirement in several countries and compulsory for all new cars in Europe.