 "Renault Kwid fails safety test; scores zero-star in ASEAN NCAP crash test")
French car major Renault's popular entry level hatchback Kwid, which is sold across various markets, including India, has failed crash test conducted on its base variant without airbags by vehicle safety group ASEAN NCAP.
According to ASEAN NCAP, Renault Kwid scored low points in adult occupant protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP) tests, while it failed to score any points in the safety assist technologies (SAT) category.
"According to the Renault Kwid's accumulated score of 24.68 points from the three assessed categories, ASEAN NCAP rated it as Zero-Star," the vehicle safety group said in a statement.
ASEAN NCAP said it tested Kwid which had only a single airbag for the driver, besides there was no ISOFIX fitted inside the car, which makes seatbelt as the main restraint method for child safety seats.
Commenting on the results, ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General, Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim said: "We are truly disappointed to find that there are still cars out there that do not offer high degree of safety levels to its occupants in the ASEAN region".
He further said: "What is more disappointing is that these cars are sold in countries that recorded one of the highest numbers of road fatalities; in which WHO published Thailand with 14,059 fatalities while Indonesia had 26,416 number of road fatalities".
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A query sent to Renault remained unanswered.
Global NCAP (new car assessment programme) Secretary-General, David Ward said that it is very disturbing to see such a poor result for the Kwid.
"Renault have shown that they can make a much safer version in Latin America, so why not in South East Asia too? Different regions and double standards from Renault is deeply disappointing!" he added.
During the first quarter of current fiscal (April-June), Renault sold 15,927 units of Kwid in India.