Mahindra XUV300 bags Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Choice’ award

The Mahindra XUV300 has achieved Global NCAP’s first ever ‘Safer Choice’ Award. According to GNCAP, this is an accolade for automakers for achieving the highest levels of safety performance with regards to cars sold in India.

This award comes close on the heels of the XUV300 bagging a five star Global NCAP rating for adult occupant protection and four stars for child occupant protection last month. It is the highest combined occupant safety rating for any car tested in Global NCAP’s #SaferCarsForIndia campaign till date.

Mahindra & Mahindra had submitted the XUV300 for further Global NCAP conformity tests after that, with the model meeting both pedestrian protection and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – key requirements for the ‘Safer Choice’ Award.

Global NCAP had launched the ‘Safer Choice’ Award challenge at the Delhi Auto Expo in 2018. A car model has to meet the following key requirements to qualify for the award: 

- The model must achieve a 5-star score for Adult Occupant Protection in accordance with the latest version of the Global NCAP new market test protocol.

- The model must achieve at least a 4-star result in Child Occupant Protection in accordance with latest version of the Global NCAP new market test protocol.

- The model must offer Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and meet performance requirements according to UN regulations UN13H, UN140 or GTR9. ESC, where optional, has to be available on all the model variants, sold separately without any ‘bundling’ with other features, and as from 2 years onwards must be a standard fit to at least 20% of the sales volume in the country.

- The model has to meet pedestrian protection requirements according to UN regulations UN127 or GTR9, as well. This has to be validated on market units at a Global NCAP designated testing laboratory.

According to the GNCAP requirements, conformity to all of the above points must be validated at a Global NCAP designated laboratory.

Speaking about the ‘Safer Choice’ award for Mahindra XUV300, David Ward, CEO and president of Global NCAP said,  “This is a historic moment for Mahindra and the Indian auto industry, marking a tipping point in vehicle safety performance for the country. After setting our ‘Safer Choice’ Award challenge in 2018 it is deeply satisfying to see an Indian automaker taking a lead on safety in this way.”

Ward added that, “From the outset our ambition has been to help establish a market for safety in India, providing consumers with the information they need to make safer choices, catalysing the manufacturers to go beyond minimum legislative requirements. With two Indian automakers, Mahindra and Tata, setting a new safety benchmark we are well on our way to realising that ambition.”

Saul Billingsley, executive director of the FIA Foundation said, “Mahindra’s award is well deserved. This motor manufacturer has chosen to make safety its priority, and Indian consumers will recognise and respond to Mahindra’s values. This is another important milestone in Global NCAP’s Safer Cars for India campaign and, coinciding with the third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, sets a direction of travel that all car makers should seek to emulate.”  

Rajan Wadhera, President-Automotive, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “This is a proud moment for Mahindra as the XUV300 receives Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Choice’ award for being the safest car in India, an accolade only available to automakers achieving the highest levels of safety performance for cars sold in the country. The Mahindra XUV300 is the first-ever car to score 5 stars for adult occupant rating and a 4-star Global NCAP child occupant protection rating, thereby qualifying for and winning the 'Safer Choice' award. I am sure that this recognition will further spur us, to achieve the highest safety for our entire range of vehicles.”

The #SaferCarsForIndia campaign was launched by Global NCAP in 2014 with the objective of promoting safer vehicles in the country. Between 2014 and 2020 Global NCAP has completed more than thirty-eight safety assessments. 

Apart from the Mahindra XUV 300, the Tata Nexon and the Altroz premium hatchback have recorded a strong five-star rating for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection. 

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