The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is set to commence testing cars manufactured in India and release safety ratings starting from October 1. Inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Command-and-Control Centre of Bharat NCAP is located at the Central Institute of Road Transport in Pune. Bharat NCAP, launched last month, will replace the Global NCAP as the official agency responsible for crash testing cars produced in India.
Under Bharat NCAP, cars made in India will not have to be sent to Global NCAP for safety ratings anymore. The crash test standards followed by the Global NCAP will be adopted by Bharat NCAP, which will evaluate cars based on various safety parameters, including frontal, pole, and side impact tests, as well as adult and child occupant protection tests.
The safety ratings awarded by Bharat NCAP will range from one to five stars, depending on the crash test results of a vehicle. To achieve a five-star rating under the Bharat NCAP regime, cars will need to meet specific criteria.
Critically, cars will require a minimum of six airbags to score a five-star rating. The Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) test will assess the impact on the driver and adult passengers in the event of a crash. For the Child Occupant Protection (COP) tests, emphasis will be placed on ISOFIX seats and airbag deployment to safeguard minors. Furthermore, all safety assist technologies will also be evaluated to determine the final score.
In terms of crash testing, Bharat NCAP will conduct three stages of tests. The first is the frontal impact test, in which a car will be crashed into a barrier at a speed of 64 kmph. The second is the side impact test, involving a car being crashed into a barrier at a speed of 50 kmph. The third and crucial test is the pole crash test, which all cars must pass to achieve a minimum of three stars.
Approximately 30 car models have already been nominated by manufacturers to undergo the Bharat NCAP crash test. It is worth noting that Tata Motors and Mahindra cars have previously achieved high safety ratings in Global NCAP tests, while Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor have not fared as well.
Overall, the introduction of Bharat NCAP will enhance the safety standards of cars manufactured in India, providing consumers with valuable insight into the safety rating of vehicles and encouraging carmakers to prioritize safety features in their products.
Source: HT Auto Desk