Automakers ready for crash testing under Bharat NCAP

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra & Hyundai Motor India are among automakers that have offered initially at least a dozen vehicle models for testing under India’s first crash-test safety rating programme, which is modelled after the Global NCAP, according to industry officials. The government’s Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) will award a star rating out of five for adult and child occupant protection respectively to passenger vehicles based on their performance in a crash test at a speed of 64 kmph. The test, which is completely voluntary for automobile companies, will begin from October.

The tests will be similar those conducted by London-based safety watchdog Global NCAP as well as Euro NCAP, with an aim to make safer vehicles for consumers in India, home to the world’s deadliest roads. Maruti Suzuki, India’s top passenger vehicle maker, said it will volunteer three models—the Grand Vitara, Brezza and Baleno. This would be a first for the carmaker as it hasn’t so far volunteered any of its cars to be tested under GNCAP.

Sport-utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra, which has received either 4- or 5-star ratings for all its new SUVs such as the XUV700 and Scorpio-N when tested under GNCAP, will also volunteer to obtain a BNCAP rating. Hyundai Motor India, the country’s second-largest passenger vehicle maker, too will volunteer “at least" three of its “popular" models to be tested under the BNCAP. The programme will test the base variants of popular passenger vehicles and only award ratings based on the performance of the base variant, in case higher-end models, are tested as well.