What year did brake assist come out?
Brake assist first appeared in 1996, with Mercedes-Benz and Bosch widely credited for introducing the Brake Assist System (BAS) on production models. Since then, the feature has evolved into broader safety systems such as emergency brake assist and automatic emergency braking, and is now common across new cars.
Origins of Brake Assist
In the mid-1990s, automakers sought ways to shorten stopping distances in emergency situations. The first production implementation of brake assist is broadly attributed to Mercedes-Benz, developed in cooperation with Bosch, and rolled out on certain models in 1996. This marked the road-going debut of a system designed to detect rapid or hard braking and amplify the braking force.
How the technology evolved
The following milestones trace the rollout of brake assist across the auto industry.
- 1996 — Mercedes-Benz, with Bosch, introduces Brake Assist System (BAS) on production vehicles, marking the first widely recognized implementation of brake assist.
- Late 1990s to early 2000s — Other manufacturers adopt brake assist, integrating it with existing ABS and electronic stability control (ESC) systems to improve emergency braking performance.
- Early 2000s — The concept becomes known in broader terms as Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and is promoted as part of advanced braking packages in several brands.
- 2010s to present — Brake assist becomes standard or widely available across many vehicle classes, with modern systems often incorporated into automatic emergency braking (AEB) and other autonomous safety features.
These developments show how brake assist evolved from a targeted feature to a core component of vehicle safety, now frequently bundled with automatic braking technologies and driver-assistance suites.
Current Status and Terminology
Today, almost all new cars include some form of brake assist as part of their safety package. The exact name and implementation vary by manufacturer, with terms such as BAS (Brake Assist System), EBA (Emergency Brake Assist), and integrated AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) commonly used. The underlying goal remains consistent: detect an emergency braking situation and apply additional braking force to reduce stopping distance.
Notable terms to know
Understanding the different labels helps readers compare safety features across vehicles and manufacturer literature.
- BAS — Brake Assist System
- EBA — Emergency Brake Assist
- AEB — Automatic Emergency Braking (the broader category that often includes brake assist as a component)
While the terminology varies, these systems share the core objective of enhancing braking performance in critical moments, sometimes in concert with cameras, radar, or lidar-based safety features.
Summary
Brake assist emerged in 1996 through the Mercedes-Benz/Bosch collaboration, marking the first production implementation of the feature. Over the ensuing decades, it broadened into a standard element of modern safety systems, evolving into components that underpin automatic emergency braking and other driver-assistance technologies now common in today’s vehicles.
