Tata Nano and other Indian small cars fail independent crash tests
India is the 6th largest car market in the world and it is anticipated that India would reach to the 4th position by 2020 after crossing the German market.
On India roads near about 140000 people dies in around 5 lakh accidents thats the worst safety record in the world. These are just estimated figures might be real numbers should be double of that figure. India is the 6th largest car market in the world and it is anticipated that India would reach to the 4th position by 2020 after crossing the German market.
In such a scenario, it is staggering to think India is the only country among the global top ten car markets which does not have a comprehensive and complete car safety regulation or testing programme. Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) is a car safety programme which evaluates new automobile designs for performance against various safety threats.
Last year Global NCAP decided to carry out a test on some of India's best selling cars, along with the partnership of India's Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). The idea was to assess the safety levels of some of the country's most popular small cars.
The cars selected for testing were the Tata Nano, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 and Volkswagen Polo. These all cars are the most basic or entry level version available in the Indian market which does not featured with airbags - this is the basic requirement to passs the safety test.
Global NCAP has conducted two tests over the identical car of the same make at Landsberg, Germany. First one test is The United Nations Regulation 94 - crash test has been carried out at 56 kmph, and the another one is Latin NCAP 2013 assessment protocol, where the car crashed at 64 kmph.During tests all manufacturers were involved and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has been also informed about the tests prior to tests. Each manufacturer’s representatives were there to witness the test and results were shared with all of them.
Figo and Polo has performed good in test and showed good structural rigidity with the safer cabin. Whereas the small cars performed badly. Even Hyundai i10 specially designed and developed for Indian market also did badly.