By Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP) is set to unveil the eagerly anticipated crash test results for its initial batch of cars by the end of December 2023. Mahmood Ahmed, the Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has reassured that the Bharat NCAP program is progressing as planned. Ahmed shared insights, stating, “Government’s BNCAP program is on track. We are hoping to share the results as soon as possible, which could be this week or before the end of the year.”
Launched in August, Bharat NCAP was officially implemented on October 1, 2023. The crash test initiative operates based on the Automotive Industry Standard AIS 197. Vehicles falling under the M1 category, capable of carrying up to 8 passengers, including the driver, with a gross weight not surpassing 3.5 tonnes, are eligible for evaluation under this program. Furthermore, the assessment extends its coverage to include imported cars, as well as those running on compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles.
Tata Motors took the lead by being the first company to apply the Bharat NCAP rating. Among the initial batch of three dozen vehicles undergoing assessment, Tata’s Harrier and Safari models are among the first to face the scrutiny of the program. The introduction of Bharat NCAP will be a significant step in the Indian automotive industry as safety rating is very important and customers are giving importance to the safety ratings.
