Today, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for trucks and buses is universally acknowledged as one of the most significant safety developments in commercial vehicle history. And, as you would expect, WABCO was one of the early pioneers, working closely with Mercedes-Benz (now DaimlerChrysler), together we introduced this quantum-leap safety breakthrough 25 years ago.

But did you know that the development of ABS for trucks and buses was possible only after overcoming a series of technical challenges. For example, different axle configurations, the difference between kerb weight and permitted gross vehicle weight, the variety of vehicle combinations, and various wheelbase lengths and body types… all combined to create a high degree of complexity, which could only be overcome with innovative thinking and expertise. Our use of electronics was also highly innovative at that time and resulted in the first ever use of microcomputers to control braking power.

Before receiving approval for series production, the newly-developed ABS system was tested over more than 60 million kilometers in a variety of weather conditions.

That was 25 years ago. Today, ABS has become a global standard for commercial vehicle safety. ABS has been followed at WABCO by a steady stream of further innovations: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Traction Control (ASR), Electronic Braking Systems (EBS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Roll Stability Support (RSS), Integrated Tire Pressure Monitoring system (IVTM). And our quest continues.