Bharat NCAP to be launched on Tuesday

The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) will be launched by Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday. This is aimed at improving road safety through raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.

“The programme aims to provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market,” an official statement said.

Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars to be tested as per the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Based on the performance of the car in the tests, car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupant (COP).

“Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase-decision,” the statement added.
With demand for safer cars increasing, car manufacturers will be encouraged to comply with customer needs. It is also expected that Indian cars will be able to compete better in the global market as they comply with higher safety standards in the future. This will increase the export potential of the car manufacturers in India while developing a safety sensitive car market in the country.