Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has been advocating for safer cars in India for a long time now. The safety agency noted that despite global brands making and selling cars in India, it was Indian automakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra that are currently ahead in the 5-star rated safety cars here.
CEO and president of Global NCAP, David Ward, presented an award to Tata Motors for making two 5-star safety rated cars in India. He went on to challenge other manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen and Toyota to work towards making 5-star rated cars in India.
Tata’s Altroz and Nexon have received 5 stars in the crash tests. Mahindra’s XUV300 also received 5 stars, with highest scores amongst all.
Ward reportedly told NDTV carandbike that “it’s obviously a big challenge to Maruti Suzuki to join the 5-star club” and “Other global brands (in India), they don’t really have no excuse not to be there too, companies like Volkswagen, Toyota and so on.”
Among 4-star rated cars are Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra Marazzo, Honda Amaze, 2020 Tata Tiago and Tigor facelifts.
The Mahindra Scorpio, Hyundai Eon, Renault Duster, Datsun Go, Tata Nano, Maruti Suzuki Eeco and Maruti Suzuki Celerio landed zero-star safety rating.
A few, such as Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai Santro, Renault Lodgy, Datsun Redigo, Maruti Suzuki Swift, received 3 stars or less when tested by GNCAP.
The Indian government has made it mandatory for vehicles manufactured after April 2019 to have an airbag, ABS, seat belt reminder, rear parking sensor, and speed alert warning system as standard.
