In a significant stride towards enhancing automotive safety, the Government of India is poised to introduce the much-anticipated Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) crash test ratings for vehicles available in the Indian market. Set to be implemented from October 1st, 2023, this program aims to provide consumers with crucial safety information while promoting safer vehicles on the roads.
Cost-Efficient Testing for Vehicle Safety
Up until now, manufacturers often opted to send their vehicles to international crash test centers, predominantly located in Europe, for safety assessments. However, with the introduction of Bharat NCAP, Indian automobile manufacturers now have the option to test their vehicles at government-approved facilities within the country. This shift significantly reduces testing costs. Nitin Gadkari, who inaugurated one such facility in India, emphasized that manufacturers will now only need to allocate Rs 60 lakh per car for testing, a substantial reduction from the previous expense of Rs 2.5 crore required for testing in Europe.
Standardized Evaluation
The Bharat NCAP crash tests will adhere to the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. These tests will evaluate various aspects of vehicle performance during collisions, culminating in awarding safety ratings ranging from 0 to 5 stars. These ratings are designed to reflect the safety of both adult occupants (AOP) and child occupants (COP) in the vehicle. By examining the number of stars a car has received in these crash test ratings, consumers can make informed decisions about the safety of the vehicles they intend to purchase.
Diverse Models Undergoing Testing
The introduction of Bharat NCAP has garnered a positive response from manufacturers operating in the Indian automotive market. Nitin Gadkari revealed that a considerable number of manufacturers have voluntarily nominated around 30 car models for testing under the BNCAP criteria. While the specific car models awaiting testing have not been disclosed, industry insiders suggest that prominent carmakers such as Tata, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, and Mahindra have submitted their vehicles for evaluation. Maruti Suzuki, for instance, has confirmed that at least three of their car models are slated for testing as part of the initial batch under BNCAP.
It’s noteworthy that these safety ratings will be voluntary, requiring manufacturers to actively apply for them. To maintain fairness and objectivity, officials from BNCAP will select vehicles randomly from manufacturers’ dispatch facilities. Importantly, only the base variant of each car model will be eligible for the crash test assessment.
Transition from “Safer Cars for India” Campaign
With the advent of the Indian crash test rating system, the Global NCAP’s ongoing “Safer Car for India” campaign will draw to a close by the end of the year. David Ward, President of Global NCAP, emphasized that they aim to support BNCAP and avoid creating confusion among consumers by maintaining parallel testing efforts.
Having tested over 50 cars in India, Global NCAP will share its testing experiences, including Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) related to vehicle selection and testing processes. This transfer of knowledge will undoubtedly contribute to raising safety standards and fostering safer mobility for Indian consumers.
