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Top Indian cars fail NCAP’s crash tests, get zero rating
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Mahindra Scorpio Scores Zero Stars in Global NCAP
Fact Check:
Some messages and videos doing rounds online claim Top Indian Cars Fail NCAP’s Crash Tests and Get Zero Rating. Some of them mention popular vehicle of India, Mahindra Scorpio also scores zero stars. The claims are mixture of hoax and facts explained here.
About Global NCAP and Crash Tests
Global New Car Assessment Programme, Global NCAP is a charity project of UK promoting the universal adoption of the United Nation’s motor vehicle safety standards worldwide. United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created the first NCAP in 1979. Since 2014 GNCAP is crash testing – affordable or mass-market cars in India – under its “Safer Cars for India” campaign. It is in a bid to promote safer vehicles to be sold in the country. Surprisingly, top Indian cars failed the NCAP crash tests and only very few scored impressive ratings.
GNCAP Crash Tests Indian Cars
In 2016, top Indian cars failed the crash tests of GNCAP. GNCAP awarded them all zero stars out of a possible five – largely on account of the absence of airbags in the models and variants tested. The cars tested were Renault’s Kwid, Maruti Suzuki’s Celerio and Eeco van, Mahindra’s Scorpio SUV and Hyundai’s Eon. Notably, the zero rating was in case of adult occupant protection. In case of child occupant protection, the cars got better ratings – two star rating for Scorpio for example.
In a statement, Global NCAP said all the cars showed low levels of adult occupant protection. The company also said in any star rating process, non-airbag variants typically do not perform well on safety standards.
Likewise, in 2018 crash tests of NCAP also, many cars in India without airbags got zero star rating. Those included Maruti Suzuki Swift, Renault Kwid, Volkswagen Polo, Tata’s Zest and Nano, Eeco Celerio and Alto from Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra’s Scorpio, Hyundai’s i10 and Eon, Ford Figo, Renault Duster and Datsun Go.
Companies’ Response on Indian Cars Zero Rating
In 2016, after GNCAP gave Mahindra’s Scorpio SUV zero rating in adult occupant protection, the company gave its response. Mahindra said all its automotive products are developed and manufactured to meet or exceed the safety standards set in India. It also claimed about 75% of Scorpio buyers choose variants of the vehicle with airbags. Further, Mahindra added that many of its models exceed the expected regulations of 2019.
Renault said their cars met the safety standard levels as prevalent in India. Similarly, Maruti Suzuki claimed that all its products met Indian safety standards and in most cases exceeded them. “The tests by global NCAP are conducted at speeds that are higher than those prescribed by the regulatory authorities not only in India but in Europe and USA. The results of Global NCAP have to be seen in that perspective,” it said in a statement. The companies also mentioned they are keen on safety and will improve to meet international standards. After the results in 2016, there was an assurance of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme that will also look into traffic situations in India and rate safety accordingly.
GNCAP ratings suggested India will bring in serious road safety laws and safety norms like making airbags in cars mandatory. However, many cars sold in India still come without airbags as it is not mandatory and also because of the high cost factor.
Hoax or Fact:
Mixture of Hoax and Facts.
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