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. |
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1987: Acquired Steelcraft in Australia. Steelcraft has been manufacturing superior nursery products for more than 65 years. |
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1988: Acquired the child safety seat business in New Zealand |
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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. |
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1996: Britax Child Safety, Inc. established in the United States. The Freeway was the first seat brought to the U.S. market. |
![]() 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. |
![]() The Roundabout was launched with a 5-point harness, built-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. |
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1997: The first product to feature ISOFIX (the precursor to the LATCH system) was launched by RÖMER in Germany. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
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2002: Britax® equips the Roundabout with LATCH connectors to be used with the vehicle LATCH system in July. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
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2002: Britax® launches the Wizard, the first seat with True Side Impact Protection in the U.S. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
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2003: The Bodyguard, the first Britax® belt-positioning booster seat featuring True Side Impact Protection, is launched. |
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2004: The Parkway belt-positioning booster seat replaced the Britax® Bodyguard, and featured True Side Impact Protection. |
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2006: The Monarch belt-positioning booster seat was launched and featured True Side Impact Protection. |
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2007: The Britax® Diplomat is launched offering parents a compact convertible seat that provides the same True Side Impact Protection as the Boulevard. |
![]() 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. |
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2008: The Britax® Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster seat is launched – the first Britax® combination seat to launch in North America. |
![]() 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. |
![]() 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. |
![]() The Boulevard 70 CS convertible car seat features SafeCell Technology. |