Carmakers to face margin pressure on safety push

The new rules that all cars be equipped with airbags, antibraking system (ABS), speed-warning systems and other safety equipment are set to weigh on car makers' margins 

Rs 15,000 – per cost for equipping a car with new safety feautres

10% – of the cost of the basic models it forms

40-45% – cars in the country have these features

Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, M&M, Ford, Nissan and Honda will be affected by the new standards

The leapfrog from BS-IV should lift the carmakers' R&D expenditures, weighing on margins

It would take longer time for mass-market brands like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai to load BS-VI compliant engines