 "Crash test safety norms for cars may be advanced")
Carmakers might have to meet frontal crash test norms a year before the deadline of October 2018 for existing car models. A draft notification proposes to make frontal air bags mandatory in models manufactured after October 2018, while companies had been preparing to offer it from October 2019. All new models launched from October 2017 need to meet these norms.
Advancement in case of existing models will create additional challenges for carmakers who are already under pressure of meeting BSVI emission norms from April 2020 against an earlier deadline of April 2023. This also means that some of the existing models that are not in a position to meet the new safety norms might have to go out of production a year earlier than planned. Last year, BSVI emission norm deadline was advanced by three years.
“This draft means certain safety norms may be advanced without any consultation. The government is trying to mandate airbags on existing models from 2018 while the crash test norms come into effect a year later. In effect, the crash test norms will also have to be met from 2018 to ensure the efficacy of air bags,” said Vishnu Mathur, director general at industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Mathur explained that fitting airbags without ensuring that the vehicle meets crash test norms is of no help in improving safety.
Companies did not comment on specific queries related to this draft notification. “We are in a discussion mode with the government on this subject,” said an official from a leading car manufacturer. The same draft also talks about making safety features like reverse sensors, seat belt alarm and speed alert systems mandatory in all cars. The industry is likely to raise its reservations on the changes proposed in the draft notification through its comments.
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Many companies have started introducing optional air bags in cars in last couple of years. In some of the newly launched vehicles, airbags are a standard feature. However, the challenge remains in smaller entry level cars. Carmakers’ recent efforts to make small cars safer with optional airbags have received tepid response from price-sensitive buyers who are unwilling to spend Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000 extra. This is despite the fact that an airbag, along with seat belt, can reduce chances of fatality by up to 80%.
Last year, Maruti Suzuki introduced airbag as an option with two of its most popular entry-level cars — Alto and WagonR. However, the percentage of buyers opting for airbags remains in the single digit. Most buyers have stayed away from paying additional price for air bags. Some companies offer airbags across models. Toyota is one of them. To make sure that price of entry-level cars does not go up, it removed features like music system from the vehicles.