2018-Safercarsforindia-Progressreport.Pdf
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INTRODUCTION In January 2014 the first results of the Safer Cars for India for project were released at a conference in Delhi hosted by our partner the Institute for Road Traffic Education (IRTE). Now we have completed 31 ratings which we are delighted to see acting as a catalyst to improve the safety of cars in India. We very much appreciate how some manufacturers are responding to our call to end zero-star cars by improving the safety of the vehicles they sell. Three models have reached four stars and others have been improved from an unacceptable zero- star rating. Now we look forward to awarding the prestigious accolade of India’s first five-star car! Global NCAP is also very pleased to see the engagement of the Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in road safety and the commitment of the Minister for Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari. We especially welcome the new crash test regulations introduced in new models from October 2017. We also look forward eventually to the launch of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme to join the family of NCAPs that are promoting a market for safer vehicles across the world. India can, and is already, playing a world leading role in vehicle safety; for example, by mandating anti-lock brakes in motorcycles. Global NCAP is very proud to contribute to this effort in partnership with the IRTE. We are also pleased to acknowledge support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the FIA Foundation who have done so much to support our work in this United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. LAUCHLAN MCINTOSH Chairman Global NCAP Front Cover: the 5 Star Tata Nexon. Above: the 4 Star Toyota Etios. THE SAFER CARS FOR INDIA PROJECT A CATALYST FOR ACTION By David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP In January 2014 the Safer Cars for India project zero stars but a separate test of a version sold was launched with the release of the country’s in Latin America with air bags scored three stars first ever independent crash tests. In partnership which clearly demonstrated the model’s potential with the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), for improvement. Global NCAP tested five popular and important models to assess their performance in the UN’s Speaking at the Delhi conference, Shri Krishan frontal impact crash test (Reg. 94) carried out Pal, then Minister of State for Road Transport, at 56 km/h and at also at the higher speed of Highways and Shipping, stressed that “safety 64 km/h typically used by New Car Assessment should be required not just for cars to be exported Programmes. The models tested included but also those sold in India”. Also commenting on India’s best-selling cars, the Suzuki-Maruti Alto the results, Shri Vijay Chibber, then IAS Secretary 800, the Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and said that the Safer Cars for India project served Volkswagen Polo. Combined sales of these five as “a wake-up call to industry” and outlined the cars account for around 20% of all the new cars Government’s proposal to launch a new Bharat Shri Nitin Gadkari, India’s Minister for Transport and sold in India in 2013. New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme Highways at the IRTE (BNVSAP). Vehicle Safety Conference. The body shells of the Alto 800, the Nano, and the i10 collapsed resulting in high risks of life- At first, reaction to the Safer Cars for India project threatening injuries to the occupants. The Figo from some senior figures in the automobile four-star rating for adult occupant protection. optional drivers air bag and seat belt pretensioner. and Polo had structures that remained stable. industry was quite hostile. Andy Palmer, then Vice After the second set of results, Nissan reacted to These upgrades ensured that the improved However, all but one of the five models failed the President of Nissan, complained that “people who the poor test result of the Datsun Go by offering version would comply with the UN frontal crash UN test at 56km/h and all scored zero stars at 64 criticise these cars for not meeting US or European a new variant, the Go plus, and both models were test. Today the best-selling variant of the Kwid in km/h. The news coverage generated by the launch crash standards are living in a dream world”. But strengthened with a driver air bag as an option. India is the optional air bag version. This proves was extensive in both the Indian and international things change and dreams come true. Today India that safety does sell and that it is possible to media and was featured on NDTV’s influential Car is applying the UN’s crash test standards and there In 2015, in response to growing customer successfully produce cars that meet UN crash test and Bike Show. is powerful evidence that a market for safer cars in demand, Toyota confirmed that airbags would standards. India is growing fast. be standard in all its Indian passenger cars. This In November 2014 a second set of test results was a significant development as when the first That is why Global NCAP strongly welcomed were released at a conference in Delhi hosted Global NCAP is proud that the Safer Cars for India test results were released industry representatives the Indian Government’s announcement in 2015 by IRTE in association with the Ministry of Road project has acted as a powerful catalyst for action argued that there was no market for airbags in that UN equivalent crash test standards for front Transport and Highways. The test results featured both by industry and Government. Coinciding the country at all. Then in 2016 after an early and side impact will be applied in India for new the Datsun Go, a new design launched in 2014, with the first set of results tests, VW decided to version of the Kwid performed very badly in a models from 1 October 2017 and for all cars from and the Maruti Suzuki Swift both with and without withdraw the non-airbag version of the Polo from further phase of Safer Cars for India testing, 1 October 2019. In addition, the Government also airbags. The Go scored zero stars as its body sale in India. Global NCAP then agreed to test Renault agreed to modify the car, working with committed to apply the standard for pedestrian structure collapsed making it redundant to even fit the upgraded version with two airbags fitted as Global NCAP on a number of repeat tests. The protection, again in two phases from 1 October an airbag. With no airbags, the Swift also scored standard and the model received India’s first ever company improved the body shell and offered an 2018 and 1 October 2020. These very positive steps have been combined with measures Korea, Turkey and the USA, and will soon also be in to promote motorcycle safety by mandating Argentina, Brazil and Malaysia. Last year in China, anti-lock brakes and automatic headlights on. where the fitment rate is currently 69%, the major The new legislation is in line with the United domestic brands made a voluntary commitment Nations General Assembly which in April 2018 to fit ESC as standard. So ESC fitment rates keep recommended that Member States “implement growing worldwide and Global NCAP hopes that UN vehicle safety regulations or equivalent this life saving technology will become more widely national standards to ensure that all new motor available in India too. Dr Rohit Baluja, President of vehicles meet applicable minimum regulations for the IRTE speaking about the the protection of occupants and other road users, India is now the fifth largest vehicle producer in the Safer Cars for India project. with seat belts, airbags, and active safety systems world after China, USA, Japan and Germany and is fitted as standard”. becoming a major force in the global automotive industry. We hope it will increasingly take on Alongside this regulatory progress some a leadership role in vehicle safety and we look manufacturers are now raising their performance forward to the eventual launch of a Bharat NCAP well above minimum statutory requirements. After to build on the success so far of the Safer Cars for testing 26 models in total, four have achieved India project. The results since 2014 show an NCAP an impressive ‘four star’ rating; the VW Polo, in India will strengthen consumer awareness of the the Toyota Etios, the Tata Nexon and the Tata importance of choosing the safest car they can Zest. It surely won’t be long before India sees its afford and encourage manufacturers to compete in first ‘five star’ car. To encourage this milestone a growing market for safety. in Indian automotive safety, in February 2018, Global NCAP launched the ‘Safer Choice’ Award In 2017 India achieved a small decrease in road at the Delhi Motor Show. This will be given to any fatalities which is most welcome. But the country manufacturer that can offer for sale a car in India is still losing over 150,000 people a year in road that meets the following criteria: a 5-star score for crashes. Improved vehicle safety can make an Adult Occupant Protection; at least a 4-star result important contribution to reducing appalling toll The first Renault Kwid tested by Global NCAP scored zero in Child Occupant Protection; meet UN Pedestrian of wasted lives and human misery as car occupants as the bodyshell collapsed. Protection requirements and include electronic are the third highest source of fatalities accounting stability control (ESC). for about 17% of the total.