What is autohold?

Autohold is a feature commonly found in modern automobiles that is designed to automatically engage and disengage the vehicle's parking brake. It is especially useful in situations where frequent stopping and starting is required, such as heavy traffic or hills.

When the autohold feature is activated, it holds the vehicle in a stationary position once it has come to a complete stop, without the need for the driver to continuously keep their foot on the brake pedal. This helps to reduce driver fatigue and provides convenience, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

Autohold systems typically work by utilizing the existing electronic parking brake mechanism in vehicles. Once the driver applies the brake pedal and brings the vehicle to a stop, the autohold system automatically engages the parking brake. The parking brake is then released when the driver presses the accelerator pedal to resume driving.

One of the key advantages of autohold is its ability to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on an incline. The system engages the parking brake until the driver accelerates, ensuring that the vehicle remains stationary and preventing any potential accidents or rollbacks.

Moreover, autohold can also be advantageous in situations where the driver needs to come to a complete stop for an extended period, such as at a red light or in heavy traffic. Instead of continuously depressing the brake pedal, the autohold feature takes over and holds the vehicle stationary until the driver is ready to proceed.

It is important to note that autohold is not a substitute for the regular parking brake, but rather a convenient addition to it. The feature can typically be manually turned on or off by the driver, allowing them to choose whether or not to utilize autohold in different driving scenarios.