Electronic Stability Control (ESC) does include the function of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), but the two are not the same concept. ESC is an advanced integrated system based on ABS. The core difference lies in the fact that ABS can only maintain tyre rotation to prevent loss of control during emergency braking, whereas ESC monitors vehicle dynamics in real time through multiple sensors (such as steering wheel angle and lateral acceleration sensors), actively adjusting braking force distribution across wheels and engine torque to correct skids caused by understeer or oversteer. For instance, when navigating a slippery curve, ESC will selectively brake the inner wheels to counteract potential fishtailing-a proactive intervention capability absent in ABS. Currently, most new vehicles come standard with ESC, and its technological evolution is becoming deeply integrated with advanced driver-assistance features (such as Automatic Emergency Braking) to further enhance road safety. While ABS constitutes a component of ESC, earlier vehicle models may only be equipped with ABS, so buyers should verify the specific configuration when purchasing a car.
