Watch A Bunch Of Indian Market Cars Fold Like Paper In Crash Tests
These cars have three things in common: all are made for the Indian market, all were deemed to have ‘unstable’ body structures, and all were given zero stars in recent Global NCAP tests. It’s clear that while much of the world takes the safety of new cars for granted, you’re much less fortunate if you’re buying a car in a developing market.
As well as the shoddy bodyshells, these cars also have a complete lack of safety features. Only one - the Renault Kwid - was fitted with an airbag, and none of the cars even have seatbelt pre-tensioners.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Indian market cars spectacularly fail a Global NCAP test - a couple of years ago we were looking at another motley crew of budget cars that had scored 0 points. These tests don’t appear to show that much progress has happened in that time, and remember, these are big, global car companies that are more than capable of making cars for other markets that are perfectly safe.
Commenting on the lack of airbags in certain Kwid models, Global NCAP secretary general David Ward said:
“It is very surprising that a manufacturer like Renault introduced the Kwid initially lacking this essential feature [an airbag]. Global NCAP strongly believes that no manufacturer anywhere in the world should be developing new models that are so clearly sub-standard. Car makers must ensure that their new models pass the UN’s minimum crash test regulations, and support use of an airbag.”
The silver lining is that the Indian government will introduce mandatory crash tests for all new cars in late 2017, which should put a stop to manufacturers flogging such woefully inadequate cars in the country.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Pretty similar situation in Pakistan. Toyota are known to use for making pretty safe cars. Over there they aren’t even considered safe by any means
India cares about mileage and useless features rather than safety
Looking at this, I’d say the engineers responsible for these forgot about the last 30 years of safety gear development
Not really, These cars are made to be as cheap as possible and because the government hasn’t implemented any regulations. The majority of the population is poor compared to first world standards. Death traps like the Tata Nano exist so that people can have a vehicle with a roof and not have to transport their entire family with a single seater motorcycle.
Living in Sri Lanka I’ve seen worse. One of my friends lost her dad by a crash in a maruti (that’s only one incidence)
I genuinely think my TVR is more safe
Because it is.
Renault Kwid, referring to how much money went into the R&D of that car
Sadly my country (India) is yet to make a good looking , safe and reliable car…
Exactly… btw i’m from India too..
Hey, fear not, we have the toyota etios :)
You have a BIG problem in India I guess. People still buy them even they are not safe?
You forgot the Datsun Go.
Shame on the manufacturers, selling cars without the driver’s airbags should be forbidden, everywhere!…BTW “Toyota India recently removed stereo from some of its lower variants, not to boost profit margins but to save cost for installing airbags. “…Goog guy Toyota, this is how it should be done.
Let this be a lesson for all the car guys changing their stock steering wheels for “sporty” with no airbag.
Weight reduction bro!
Thats one way to deal with overpopulation