"The purpose of this major conference is to underline the importance of Stuttgart and Sindelfingen as automotive industry locations with a rich tradition, where systematic car safety development commenced under Béla Barényi in 1939 and which have brought forth many trailblazing technologies for safer driving", says Dr. Thomas Weber, the member of the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management for Research and Development.

The ESV Conference has long provided major impetus for further advances in the development of automotive safety. At this year’s event, which was held in Lyon, France, and has just come to an end, the focus was on the topic of "Integrated vehicle safety".

Since 2002 Mercedes-Benz has been the leader in this field with the anticipatory occupant protection system PRE-SAFE®, which becomes active in advance of an impending accident. By networking active and passive safety features, this technology marked the start of a new era in passenger car safety.

As the organiser of the 21st ESV Conference, to be held in spring 2009, Mercedes-Benz will emphasise its long tradition and trendsetting role in the field of vehicle safety. In 2009 the Stuttgart brand will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of its safety department, which was formed in August 1939 under the management of Béla Barényi. It was he who invented the principle of the crumple zone, which first entered series production at Mercedes-Benz in 1959.

On the basis of its in-house accident research activities, which commenced in 1969, Mercedes engineers developed the airbag, belt tensioner, windowbag and other milestones in passenger car safety. Driver assistance systems such as ESP® and Brake Assist, which contribute to the prevention of accidents, were also developed by Mercedes-Benz on the basis of accident research.