India is set to launch its own vehicle crash test rating system, called the Bharat NCAP, in October. This move comes after crash test ratings for Indian-made cars were previously provided by the Global NCAP, a UK-registered charity that focuses on promoting safer vehicles in developing markets.
The Bharat NCAP will assess vehicles based on criteria such as adult occupant safety, child occupant safety, and the fitment of safety assist technology. Cars tested under this program will bear the Bharat NCAP logo and a sticker denoting their rating.
Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, announced the approval of the BNCAP official notification and expressed his satisfaction with the automotive industry’s acceptance of the program. Over 30 requests for testing models have already been received by Bharat NCAP.
Gadkari also acknowledged that in addition to car safety, his ministry is addressing the issue of road engineering, which is a significant problem in India.
By implementing the Bharat NCAP, India aims to improve its automotive safety systems and empower consumers with information about the safety of vehicles. The cost of testing a car under this program will be significantly lower compared to conducting similar tests overseas – around Rs 60 lakh as opposed to Rs 2.5 crore.
David Ward, Executive Director for Global NCAP, commended India for its progress in implementing automotive safety systems over the last decade. Among the G20 countries, India has been the most improved in this regard.
With the introduction of the Bharat NCAP, India is taking a significant step towards enhancing vehicle safety standards in the country. This program will provide consumers with valuable information and help promote the sale of safer cars in India.
