Safety rating agency Global-NCAP’s CEO and President, David Ward, had urged automakers, specially Maruti Suzuki, to upgrade safety standards after the successful 5-star reports of Tata Altroz and Mahindra XUV300 came into light. However, Maruti, instead of stepping up for the challenge, has decided not to take part in the tests at all.
So far, Global NCAP has sourced India-made Maruti Suzuki vehicles on its own. It has tested the Alto, Eeco, Ertiga, Wagon R, Swift, and Vitara Brezza. Only the Vitara Brezza has scored 4 stars and Ertiga 3 stars. Rest of the cars have performed very poorly in the crash tests.
During the Auto Expo 2020, CV Raman, Senior Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki, has reportedly said, “As far as Maruti Suzuki is concerned, we are meeting all safety regulations mandated by the government and the recently introduced offset side impact and pedestrian regulation. Going forward SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) as a body with the manufacturers are working to bring out the BNCAP (Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessement Program). Anything that is led or driven by the government and recognized it is something that we would be definitely looking at. Any other agency, it’s okay for the strategy of other manufacturers but Maruti Suzuki would like to work within the ambit of the Indian government regulations.”
India will be setting up its own mandatory crash tests under BNVSAP soon. It is likely to follow global standards such as crash tests at 64 kmph instead of the current 24kmph.
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