With its initiation on October 1, Bharat NCAP is set to conduct crash tests on more than three dozen cars. These will include models from prominent Indian, Japanese, and Korean automakers. This voluntary initiative, inspired by the Global NCAP, aims to establish safety benchmarks for vehicles in the Indian market.
Key Details of the Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
Protocol and Assessment: Bharat NCAP will evaluate vehicles based on three primary protocols. These include adult occupant protection (AOP), child occupant protection (COP), and safety assist technologies (SAT). Assessments will be conducted by the testing agencies designated by the central government. Some of these include the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
Voluntary Participation: While Bharat NCAP is voluntary, several prominent automakers, including Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra, have enthusiastically volunteered their models for crash testing. Tata Motors’ Harrier and Safari facelifts are expected to be the the first cars to undergo the Bharat NCAP challenge. They have already earned 5-star ratings in Global NCAP crash tests.
Testing Process: OEMs participating in Bharat NCAP will submit their applications (Form 70-A) to the designated testing agencies. The cars will be rated on a scale from zero to five stars based on their performance in the crash tests. Testing agencies will select three units of the base variant of each car model for evaluation.
Response and Participation: While the response from the automotive industry has been positive, some European carmakers like Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault, and Stellantis Group are yet to decide on submitting their cars for Bharat NCAP tests. Some argue that their vehicles have already undergone similar assessments under Global NCAP.
Bharat NCAP Impact on Consumers
These days, car safety awareness is on the rise. Thus, Bharat NCAP’s voluntary crash tests provide consumers with valuable insights into the safety features of various car models. Moreover, this initiative is anticipated to encourage automakers to enhance their vehicles’ safety standards, promoting a safer driving experience for Indian consumers.
Also Read – Bharat NCAP, Indian crash test rules announced.