General Motor India's multipurpose vehicle (MPV) Chevrolet Enjoy has failed crash test conducted by vehicle safety group Global NCAP with the vehicle scoring zero point in terms of adult occupant protection.
According to the UK-based Global NCAP, an umbrella body of consumer car safety testing bodies, the Enjoy, which is sold without airbags in its basic version, "recorded a disappointing zero stars" for adult occupant protection.
Due to the lack of airbags and poor structural performance in the model, the driver injuries would have been unacceptably high, it said after the crash test.
Enjoy scored two stars for rear seat child occupant protection.
GM India sells Enjoy at price ranging from Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 7.3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
" ... We are extremely concerned about the poor result of the Chevrolet Enjoy. There is nothing to enjoy about a zero star safety score and GM should be embarrassed that they are selling cars with such inadequate levels of occupant protection to Indian consumers," Global NCAP Secretary General David Ward said in a statement.
When contacted, a GM India spokesperson told PTI that the company shares the goal of improving road safety worldwide, including the adoption of robust auto safety standards.
"GM offers airbags as optional equipment in Enjoy models sold in India. The Enjoy is offered with a mix of content options to align with customer demands. These tests are consistent with previous NCAP results for a number of base-contented vehicles manufactured in India, under current safety regulations," the spokesperson said.
GM has supported the introduction of improved crash safety standards to be implemented from this year and the company is working with the government as it seeks to develop further safety measures, including the mandating of airbags, ABS and seatbelt reminders, the spokesperson added.
On the other hand, Ford's compact sedan Aspire, which comes with double airbags as standard, scored three stars for adult occupant protection and two stars for child protection.
Ward said Ford's three-star result shows that basic levels of safety are achievable as standard in the Indian vehicle market.
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