Bharat NCAP crash test has started from 15th December. The first batch of cars to be included in this crash test is going to be revealed this month. BNCAP was launched on October 1, 2023.
Bharat NCAP crash test has started from 15th December. The first batch of cars to be included in this crash test is going to be revealed this month. Some media reports claim that the Kia Sonet facelift and Tata Punch are the first batch of cars to be crash tested at BNCAP. By the way, the matter of BNCAP test of 6 airbag model of Tata Punch has also come to light. More than 3 dozen (36 vehicles) vehicles will be tested in BNCAP. Till now, European companies like Renault, Skoda and Volkswagen have not decided to register their cars.
Let us tell you that Bharat New Car Assistance Program (BNCAP) was launched on October 1, 2023. India has become the 5th country in the world to introduce a crash test program. Currently, Global NCAP is a big name in this test. Many of our vehicles are also sold in the country after Global NCAP rating. In such a situation, now all the companies in the country will get the benefit of BNCAP.
Rating based on 3 parameters in BNCAP
Crash test norms are mandatory for cars in India for structural safety. BNCAP rating will evaluate the car on the basis of three parameters namely Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT). Car manufacturers or importers will have to apply in Form 70-A to agencies designated by the Centre. The agencies will provide a 9 to 5 star rating to the vehicles as per the Automotive Indian Standards (AIS) based on their performance in the tests.
Crash test of cars of these companies
Maruti Suzuki India will send 3 models, Hyundai Motor India will send 3 models for India NCAP. Mahindra & Mahindra will send its 4 models for testing. In line with GNCAP norms, the testing agencies will choose three units of the base variant of each model. Meanwhile, European carmakers including Renault India, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India and Stellantis Group are in no rush to get their cars safety-rated yet. While some said they have not yet decided on the models they want to rate for safety. Some say that their models have already been given safety rating by Global NCAP.
India NCAP will work like this
To make a car a part of this test, the manufacturer will have to nominate the vehicle model. Bharat NCAP team will visit that vehicle manufacturing facility. The team will select that model base variant. That selected vehicle will be sent to Bharat NCAP testing centre. The crash test process of the select variants will be conducted in front of the representative of the car manufacturer and Bharat NCAP team. Test results will be compiled. The details will be shared with the car company after the approval of Bharat NCAP Standing Committee. After the approval of the Standing Committee, the star rating and crash test result of that vehicle will be published by Bharat NCAP. Also, its certificate will be issued by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).
Current NCAP crash test process
Almost all the models of all the companies selling cars in India are crash tested by NCAP. During the test, the vehicle is collided with an object at a specified speed. A dummy is used in the car for this test. The dummy is like a human being. 4 to 5 dummies are used in the car during the test. There is a child’s dummy on the back seat. Did the car’s airbag work after the crash test or not? How much damage was done to the dummy? How much did the car’s safety features work? Rating is given on the basis of all these. It is also seen how safe the adults and children remained in the car.