The Mercedes-Benz ESV 2019 experimental safety vehicle, which the company recently unveiled to the public, showcases pioneering automotive safety technology. It is the latest in a long tradition of ESV vehicles, dating back almost 50 years. One of these automotive heritage vehicles can be seen at the Mercedes-Benz Museum: ESV 22 from 1973.

Sindelfingen. Since 1971, Mercedes-Benz has designed more than 30 experimental safety vehicles. In doing so, this manufacturer conducts research on numerous automotive safety systems, refines them and makes them fit for series production. The ESVs are embedded in the long history of continuous safety development at Mercedes-Benz.

Some early milestones of this tradition are:

From the 1970s onwards, the ESVs paved the way for a large number of other innovations, some of which could not be mass-produced until years later. These include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) (1978), belt tensioners (1981) and belt force limiters (1995), airbags (1981), passenger airbags (1987) and side airbags (1995).

As part of the 1970s ESV programme, Mercedes-Benz presented the following four ESVs to the public:

As a continuous pacesetter in vehicle safety, Mercedes-Benz presented another vehicle in 2009 that, in turn, anticipated numerous subsequent series developments.

The ESV 2019 shown in spring 2019 seamlessly continues this tradition. It has more than a dozen innovations on board and also picks up on current trends for the future, such as electric drivetrains and autonomous driving. The solutions include both developments close to production level and others that extend far into the future – as is always the case with Mercedes-Benz’s experimental safety vehicles. Every ESV reflects the extremely broad technological horizon that underlines this brand’s uncompromising drive to advance innovations in vehicle safety.