Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

4 Automakers Offer Auto-Braking Standard on Most Cars

Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Toyota already offer automatic emergency braking as a standard feature on most of their vehicles, according to a new progress report.

by Staff
December 21, 2017
4 Automakers Offer Auto-Braking Standard on Most Cars

The 2017 Volvo XC60 SUV includes an updated City Safety AEB system. Photo courtesy of Volvo.

3 min to read


The 2017 Volvo XC60 SUV includes an updated City Safety AEB system. Photo courtesy of Volvo.

Four of 20 automakers reported that automatic emergency braking (AEB) is standard on more than half of their 2017 model-year vehicles, according to an update released jointly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The four automakers are Tesla (99.8% of fleet), Mercedes-Benz (96%), Volvo (68%) and Toyota (56%). They are followed by Honda (30%), Hyundai (9%) and Kia (5%).

Ad Loading...

Even without making AEB standard, another five automakers reported that at least 30% of vehicles they produced in 2017 are equipped with AEB. They are Audi (73%), BMW (58%), Subaru (47%), Volkswagen (36%) and Maserati/Alfa Romeo (30%).

The 20 automakers previously agreed to voluntarily equip virtually all of their new passenger vehicles with a low-speed AEB system by September 2022. These systems will include forward collision warning. The technology is designed to prevent and mitigate front-to-rear crashes.

“The growing number of vehicles offering automated emergency braking is good news for America’s motorists and passengers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. “With each model year, manufacturers will increasingly utilize technology to allow vehicles to ‘see’ the world around them and navigate it more safely.”

The voluntary agreement to make AEB standard was announced in March 2016. The goal is to get the technology into a wider swath of the vehicle fleet faster.

“IIHS is pleased to see that automakers are steadily moving toward the shared goal of putting standard AEB into every new car they sell,” said David Zuby, executive vice president and chief research officer of IIHS. “This is a big win for safety on our nation’s roads, which will see fewer crashes and injuries because of this commitment.”

Ad Loading...

By 2025, the commitment will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries, IIHS estimated. Consumer Reports has agreed to assist in monitoring automaker progress.

“This progress is great news for luxury car buyers and many others, but many automakers still need to do more, as Consumer Reports analysis indicates that only 19% of 2017 models included these lifesaving technologies as standard features,” said David Friedman, director of cars and product policy and analysis at Consumers Union. Consumers Union is the policy and mobilization division of Consumer Reports.

“Automakers, safety groups and the government should also work together to make highway operation and pedestrian detection standard features on all AEB systems,” Friedman added.

Manufacturers recently submitted their first yearly AEB agreement progress reports for vehicles manufactured from Sept. 1, 2016, through Aug. 31, 2017, for the U.S. market.

The participating automakers include Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. These companies represent more than 99% of the U.S. automobile market.

Ad Loading...

Toyota is the frontrunner when it comes to having the largest number of 2017 vehicles with standard AEB. The automaker equipped 56% of its 2017 fleet — 1.4 of 2.5 million vehicles — with AEB. General Motors has the second-highest number of 2017 models with AEB — 551,777 of 2.8 million vehicles, representing 20% of its 2017 fleet. Honda is third-highest with 492,330 of 1.6 million vehicles with AEB, representing 30% of its 2017 fleet.

Other manufacturers have yet to make significant progress. Fewer than 10% of 2017 vehicles sold by Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi have AEB. Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche didn’t offer the feature at all on 2017 vehicles.

More Safety

An image to reflect an article on how the safest fleets aren't the ones with the most tech.
SafetyAugust 11, 2026

The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology

You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.

Read More →
Cover of the AgileFleet white paper "Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks" with the AgileFleet logo and a photo of fleet vehicles parked outside a government building.
SponsoredAugust 7, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks

Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness

Read More →
conference attendees watching a speaker
Safetyby StaffAugust 6, 2026

NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis

The Sept. 15–17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
NETS crash statistics overlaying an accident photo
Safetyby Chris BrownAugust 5, 2026

Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers’ $61.7 Billion Crash Burden

NETS quantifies costs dispersed across fleet, risk, HR, and other departments while providing new per-crash benchmarks for employers.

Read More →
red ram recall image
Safetyby Faith HowellAugust 3, 2026

Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue

The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Smiling commercial truck driver gives a thumbs-up from inside a tractor cab during Operation Safe Driver Week 2026, highlighting fleet safety, responsible driving and enforcement awareness.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJuly 16, 2026

Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets

A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.

Read More →
Nexar and nauto logos
Safetyby StaffJuly 13, 2026

Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset

Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.

Read More →
A black square with white color font text
SponsoredJuly 2, 2026

From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets

From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
IIHS HLDI text overlaid on the trunks of pick up trucks.
Safetyby Chris BrownJuly 2, 2026

IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?

Read More →