What was the first production car to be equipped with electronic stability control as a standard feature?

The first production car to offer electronic stability control as a standard feature was the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, specifically the S 600 Coupé.

Mercedes-Benz introduced the system under the name Electronic Stability Program, or ESP, in May 1995. Daimler-Benz developed it with Bosch to detect vehicle instability and selectively brake individual wheels while reducing engine torque when necessary. These interventions help the car follow the driver’s intended path during a skid.

The wording can cause confusion because several manufacturers introduced related systems around the same time. Toyota launched Vehicle Stability Control on the 1995 Crown Majesta, while BMW introduced Dynamic Stability Control in the 7 Series. Mercedes-Benz nevertheless receives the usual “first” credit for bringing a modern ESC system to series production and making it standard in the S 600 Coupé.

ESP later became available across more Mercedes models and gained wider attention after the 1997 Mercedes A-Class “moose test” controversy. It is now commonly grouped under the generic term electronic stability control, or ESC.