GNCAP looks to test cars from India again

Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) is looking to test another set of cars from India later this year.

The UK-based organisation will take a final call regarding the tests by May. It is currently having discussions with its partner for the 'Safer Cars for India' campaign – the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) – and various vehicle OEMs.

As part of the campaign, GNCAP has tested two set of cars from India so far. The first set of cars, tested in January 2014, comprised the Hyundai i10, Tata Nano, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Figo. In the second round of tests conducted in November last year, the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Datsun Go were tested.

GNCAP's test reports in November 2014 created quite a stir as they strongly criticised the Datsun Go's occupant safety level and GNCAP even appealed to Nissan to withdraw the model. It had said that the car's structure was not robust enough to be fitted with an airbag.

After reading the recent news about Nissan planning to offer an airbag in the Go, GNCAP's secretary general David Ward "cautiously welcome(s)" the move. Autocar Professional, in its February 1, 2015 issue, had first reported about Nissan planning to offer the airbag feature.

Ward told Autocar Professional that there has been a positive move in the direction of enhancing safety levels in India over the past year and GNCAP should be able to confirm about its next test involving cars from India, by May 2015.

It is likely that the Datsun Go may be crash-tested again by GNCAP. It is learnt that a team of GNCAP officials will visit Japan by mid-May and will meet officials from Nissan among other OEMs. The new round of tests will gain support from Bloomberg Philanthropies' commitment of $125 million (Rs 790 crore) over the next 5 years to enhance road safety levels in multiple countries. GNCAP is one of the partners of Bloomberg Philanthropies Road Safety Initiative.