India Introduces Five-Star Safety Ratings for New Cars
India has joined the list of countries with its own local crash-testing program for new cars. The program, known as Bharat NCAP, will introduce a five-star safety rating system to help improve road safety and encourage manufacturers to produce safer vehicles. However, it is important to note that this rating system is not equivalent to Australia’s ANCAP rating system.
According to Automotive News Europe, India is the third-largest car market in the world but also has some of the highest numbers of road-related deaths. In 2022 alone, the Indian government recorded 150,000 road-related fatalities. With the introduction of the Bharat NCAP program, the Indian government aims to steer car buyers towards safer vehicles and encourage car manufacturers to incorporate more safety features into their models.
Starting from October 1st, 2023, car manufacturers will have the option to nominate their vehicles for evaluation under the Bharat NCAP program. While this process has similarities to ANCAP, which also allows independent vehicle purchases for testing, ANCAP sets higher standards for achieving a five-star safety rating compared to Bharat NCAP.
Rhianne Robson, the Director of Communications and Advocacy at ANCAP, welcomed the establishment of the Bharat NCAP program. She commented that while the testing methods and scoring systems may differ, the new program will aid in setting non-regulatory consumer-influenced safety standards for cars in the Indian market.
One key difference between the two rating systems is the speed at which frontal impacts are tested. ANCAP conducts frontal crash tests at 64km/h, whereas Bharat NCAP will conduct them at 50km/h. Additionally, ANCAP requires a higher number of points across a wider range of testing criteria to achieve a five-star rating.
It is important to note that vehicles manufactured in India and supplied to the Australian and New Zealand markets will still need to meet the stricter ANCAP standards to achieve the five-star safety rating expected by consumers and fleet owners in the Australasian region.
With road safety being a major concern in India, the introduction of the Bharat NCAP program is a step in the right direction. By raising awareness about safety and encouraging manufacturers to prioritize safety features, the program has the potential to reduce road-related accidents and fatalities in the country.
About the Author:
Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, Australia. With over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, Ben is considered an expert in classic car investment. He previously worked as an interstate truck driver and completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021. You can learn more about Ben Zachariah by visiting his profile on Drive’s website.