History

 

Britax® has been a leader in mobile safety for more than 80 years. Extensive experience, hours of engineering and in-house child seat experts has made Britax® a leader in child safety products. Britax® engineers have brought more innovations like Versa-Tether and True Side Impact Protection to child seat safety than anyone else in the world.

Some Highlights in Britax® History

1939: Britax® formed out of British Accessories  
1973: Acquired RÖMER in Germany. RÖMER was founded in 1971 and initially concentrated on manufacturing vehicle seat belts. In 1973 RÖMER launched their first child seat.  
1986: Acquired Safe-n-Sound in Australia. Safe-n-Sound is the premier child seat manufacturer serving Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. safe-n-sound-logo.gif
1987: Acquired Steelcraft in Australia. Steelcraft has been manufacturing superior nursery products for more than 65 years. steelcraft-logo.gif
1988: Acquired the child safety seat business in New Zealand new_zealand_flag.jpg
1990: ISOFIX emerged through co-operation between international experts of the vehicle industry and child seat manufacturers (such as RÖMER), who engaged in the development of a standardized anchorage standard for child protection systems in cars. This work became the foundation for the LATCH system in the United States. huge-isofix-icon.gif
1996: Britax Child Safety, Inc. established in the United States. The Freeway was the first seat brought to the U.S. market. freewayburgandycheck300.jpg
The Freeway was a forward facing only seat for children 20 to 40 pounds.
1997: Britax® launches the first convertible car seat in the U.S. – the Roundabout. rab_bigcat.jpg
The Roundabout was launched with a 5-point harnessbuilt-in lock-offs, energy-managing foam and the patented Britax® Versa-tether, paving the way for the entire child seat industry.
1997: Britax® launches their first U.S. belt-positioning booster seat, the Starriser Comfy. starrisercomfy.jpg
1997: The first product to feature ISOFIX (the precursor to the LATCH system) was launched by RÖMER in Germany. roemer_isofix_seat.jpg
The RÖMER Prince ISOFIX, the first child seat by RÖMER in co-operation with VW, is shown at the International Automobile Fair with the introduction of the VW Golf IV.
2000: Britax® launches its first U.S. infant car seat – the Britax® Handle With Care. handlewithcare.jpg
The Handle with Care infant car seat accommodated infants up to 20 pounds rear facing.
2000: Beginning September 1, 2000, all new vehicles were required to come equipped with a top tether anchor to be used with top tethers on child seats. rab_historicalsheet_thumb.jpg
The Roundabout was launched with a top tether, the patented Britax® Versa-tether, prior to it being mandatory for all child seat manufacturers to include a top tether.
2001: The Advantage convertible car seat is launched in the U.S. The Advantage is the first Britax® seat to feature a no re-thread harness height adjustment knob. advantage.jpg
2002: Britax® equips the Roundabout with LATCH connectors to be used with the vehicle LATCH system in July. rab_puppylatch.jpg
The Roundabout equipped with lower LATCH connectors in the retired Puppy fashion.
2002: Britax® launches the Marathon convertible car seat in the U.S. with LATCH in August. marathonoriginal.jpg
The Marathon is the first Britax® high-weight capacity seat accommodating children up to 65 pounds.
2002: All child seats had to be equipped with lower LATCH connectors and all new vehicles had to be equipped with lower LATCH anchors after September 1, 2002. loweranchors.jpg
2002: Britax® launches the Wizard, the first seat with True Side Impact Protection in the U.S. wizard_thumb.jpg
The Britax® Wizard convertible car seat, the predecessor to the Britax® Boulevard, was designed for better protection from all sides and accommodated children up to 65 pounds.
2002: The Britax® Husky is launched – replacing its predecessor, the Super Elite. husky.jpg
The Super Elite was launched in 2001 and was the first child seat available to the general public that allowed children to remain in a 5-point harness to 80 pounds. Once lower LATCH connectors were added to the seat, it was called the Husky (later to be renamed the Regent).
2003: The Britax® Companion is launched in the U.S. and the first U.S. infant car seat with True Side Impact Protection. companionwhitebase.jpg
2003: The Bodyguard, the first Britax® belt-positioning booster seat featuring True Side Impact Protection, is launched. bodyguard.jpg
2004: The Parkway belt-positioning booster seat replaced the Britax® Bodyguard, and featured True Side Impact Protection. parkway.jpg
2006: The Monarch belt-positioning booster seat was launched and featured True Side Impact Protection. monarch.jpg
2007: The Britax® Diplomat is launched offering parents a compact convertible seat that provides the same True Side Impact Protection as the Boulevard. diplomat_1.jpg
The Diplomat's compact size is ideal for rear facing in vehicles with limited space, and accommodates children up to 40 pounds.
2008: The Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator is launched with the Boulevard CS, addressing parents' concerns about whether the harness straps are snug enough around their child. clicksafe.jpg
2008: The Britax® Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster seat is launched – the first Britax® combination seat to launch in North America. frontier_1.jpg
The Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster seat allows your child to ride in a 5-point harness from 2 years and 25 pounds, up to 80 pounds, and then converts into a belt-positioning booster seat.
2009: Britax® launches the Advocate CS, the first seat in the world to feature Side Impact Cushion Technology. advocatecs.jpg
The Advocate CS convertible car seat accommodates children up to 65 pounds.
2010: Britax® launches a redesigned line of convertible car seats featuring SafeCell Technology. bvd70cs-blueprint-medium.jpg
The Boulevard 70 CS convertible car seat features SafeCell Technology.