This new rule will change how you buy cars
Indian customers and their choices have matured over the years when it comes to buying cars. Earlier, a car was just looked at from the perspective of commuting from one place to another. A feature like AC was sold at a premium earlier. With every passing year, buyers’ priorities have upgraded. They have gone from wanting spacious cars to powerful cars to features loaded cars. In the modern age and era, a buyers along with features focuses a lot on safety. This change can be credited to cars from Mahindra and Tata. They have focused a lot on safety and have been soaring high on success, thanks to their long list of safe cars. Currently, Indian manufacturers and other manufacturers in India have been relying on Global NCAP to rate their cars for safety. However now, the Indian government has finally decided to bring into effect its own safety rating standards, which we will soon see translate as Bharat NCAP (BNCAP). Once BNCAP comes into effect, it would definitely affect every buyer’s car buying decision. So, what is BNCAP? When is it coming into affect? How will it rate cars? Is every car manufacturer supporting it? Everything in this article. Let’s begin.
What is Bharat NCAP?
Bharat NCAP as mentioned above will be India’s own car safety assessment program. There will be some significant differences in Bharat NCAP when compared to GNCAP. GNCAP is a global assessment program and thus is not mandatory for every carmaker to undergo this. This is the reason why many car manufacturers do not take this assessment program diligently. With BNCAP, car manufacturers will have to get their cars rated for safety. Cars and SUVs weighing under 3.5 tonnes and with seating capacity of 8 will be crash tested here. The government already has made active and passive features like ABS+EBD, seat belt reminders, speed warning, and dual airbags mandatory for all cars. Next in line is the six airbags rule set to come in effect from this October. There are also proposals to implement ADAS for enhanced safety. The cars will be tested at ARAI’s fully-equipped test facility in Chakan, Pune.
When is it coming into effect?
BNCAP is coming into effect from 1st April, 2023. With BNCAP, the government is really pushing forward to make India a global automobile hub in the world.
How will Bharat NCAP rate cars?
BNCAP will have a single measurement rating for both adult and child occupants, unlike GNCAP’s separate rating system. ARAI does realise that having two separate ratings will only confuse Indian buyers. Bharat NCAP also wants to be future-ready for testing CNG cars, EVs and hybrid cars. This has been done in order to incorporate the future automobiles and not just focus on what is available currently.
The biggest question – Is every carmaker supporting this?
As of now, Maruti has come out with an opinion that this will not be feasible for the brand. Maruti has already been opposing the six airbag rule since that will greatly increment prices of its budget cars and ‘budget’ is where Maruti has its USP. Now, Maruti has made it clear that the brand would only go with BNCAP if customers demand for it. Moreover, the brand would charge buyers for demanding a BNCAP rating. Do you think Maruti’s stance here will benefit the buyers? Let us know in the comments.
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