"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."

By 2025, the commitment will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries, the IIHS has estimated. Consumer Reports supported the commitment and 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 percent of 2017 models included these lifesaving technologies as standard features," said David Friedman, director, cars and product policy and analysis at Consumers Union, 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."

Manufacturers recently submitted their first yearly progress report to NHTSA on the AEB status of the 2017 fleet for vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2016 through Aug. 31, 2017, for the U.S. market (Docket ID: NHTSA-2015-0101). The participating automakers included 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 percent of the U.S. automobile market.

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

In terms of the proportion of vehicles produced with AEB, luxury makers in general led the way. Tesla included the technology on nearly all 2017 Model S cars and Model X SUVs, either as original equipment or via an over-the-air software update, although the feature was deactivated on some vehicles for part of 2017. Mercedes-Benz equipped 96 percent of its 2017 vehicles with standard AEB. Seventy-three percent of 2017 Audi vehicles had AEB, followed by 68 percent of Volvos and 58 percent of BMWs. Just under half of Subaru's 2017 vehicles had AEB.

Other manufacturers have yet to make significant progress. Fewer than 10 percent of 2017 vehicles sold by Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi had AEB. Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche did not report any 2017 vehicles with AEB conforming to the commitment's requirements.

Percent of 2017 fleet conforming to the AEB voluntary commitment

As reported by manufacturer for light-duty vehicles 8,500 lb. or less gross vehicle weight

Initially announced with 10 automakers in September 2015 and another 10 in March 2016, the voluntary commitment was brokered by NHTSA and IIHS to make AEB with FCW standard on virtually all light-duty cars and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 8,500 pounds or less beginning no later than September 1, 2022. The commitment calls for the technology to be standard on virtually all trucks with a gross vehicle weight between 8,501 pounds and 10,000 pounds beginning no later than September 1, 2025.

AEB, also known as autobrake, among other names, includes a range of systems designed to address the large number of rear-end crashes in which drivers do not apply the brakes or fail to apply sufficient braking power to avoid or mitigate a crash. AEB systems use on-vehicle sensors such as radar, cameras, or lasers to detect an imminent crash, warn the driver, and, if the driver does not take sufficient action, engage the brakes. FCW alerts drivers to conflicts ahead but does not take action for the driver. AEB systems halve rear-end crashes, while FCW alone reduces them by nearly a third, IIHS research had found.

Conforming systems must come with FCW that meets two of three NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings' requirements and AEB that earns at least an "advanced" rating from IIHS. Although a low-speed AEB system is standard on all Volvo passenger vehicles, not all include forward collision warning as outlined in the voluntary commitment. Mazda also offers a low-speed AEB system without forward collision warning.