Bharat NCAP Crash Tests Results to Be Revealed Later This Month

The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), under the Government of India, has concluded its initial round of crash testing, and the results are anticipated to be disclosed either this week or by the conclusion of the current month. The outcome of these tests is expected to aid potential buyers in making more informed decisions when purchasing vehicles. Originally scheduled to commence on October 15th, the Bharat NCAP tests were rescheduled to December 15th due to the busy holiday season.

While testing agencies have already submitted their assessments, the official assignment of star ratings ranging from 1 to 5 will be announced by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) Pune, the program manager for the car assessment plan.

Various automobile manufacturers, including Hyundai, Kia, Maruti, and others, have submitted their cars for evaluation. The Bharat NCAP program encompasses testing of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Electric Vehicles (EVs).

The testing process incurs a cost of Rs 60 lakh for Bharat NCAP, while an overseas test is estimated to cost Rs 2.5 crore. Mahmood Ahmed, additional secretary at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has indicated that the BNCAP program is progressing as planned, with the results expected to be shared either this week or before the year’s end.

Government officials are contemplating a major event for the announcement, potentially featuring Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Bharat NCAP officials. However, the decision is still under discussion, contributing to the delay in publishing the ratings on the BNCAP website.

During the testing process, Bharat NCAP conducts Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP) tests on vehicles weighing up to 3,500kg. The safety rating, ranging from zero to five, is provided for both categories, with Bharat NCAP offering a unified rating, unlike Global NCAP’s separate ratings for AOP and COP. The testing agencies randomly select vehicles from authorized dealerships for evaluation.

The crash test ratings from Bharat NCAP are applicable to vehicles holding type approval, encompassing models with a seating capacity of up to eight, including the driver. Government officials have highlighted that the testing regime includes the assessment and rating of CNG, electric, and internal combustion engine vehicles. The guidelines specify that the testing agencies will conduct frontal impact tests at 64kph, side impact tests at 50kph, and pole side-impact tests at 29kph.

During the program’s launch, Minister Gadkari mentioned that over 30 models had been nominated for testing, emphasising that a BNCAP test costs Rs 60 lakh, while an overseas test costs approximately Rs 2.50 crore.