"The latest Indian crash test results from Global NCAP released here on Tuesday continue to disappoint with all five models rated as zero star," Global NCAP said in a statement.
As many as five popular passenger vehicle car models in India -- Maruti Celerio, Maruti Eeco, Renault Kwid, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon -- failed crash tests with 'zero star' rating by vehicle safety group Global NCAP.
The UK-based group found that the vehicles "showed low levels of adult occupant protection".
"The latest Indian crash test results from Global NCAP released here on Tuesday continue to disappoint with all five models rated as zero star," Global NCAP said in a statement. Global NCAP secretary general David Ward said the latest results show how important it is for cars to have a body shell that can remain stable in a crash.
"It is very surprising that a manufacturer like Renault introduced the Kwid initially lacking this essential feature. Global NCAP strongly believes that no manufacturer anywhere in the world should be developing new models that are so clearly sub-standard," Ward said.
Car makers must ensure that their new models pass the UN's minimum crash test regulations, and support the use of airbag, he added.
Renault India Operations Country CEO & Managing Director Sumit Sawhney told PTI: "We appreciate Global NCAP recognising Renault's efforts and commitment to safety enhancement. Safety is of paramount importance for Renault and all our products meet and exceed the requisite safety standards set by Indian regulatory authorities."
Industry experts, however, questioned why Global NCAP tested vehicles at a speed of 64kmph while the frontal offset regulation in Europe and the US, which have the most advanced safety standards, is to test them at 56 kmph. India is also adopting 56 kmph in its regulations from 2017.
"There's no scientific reason whatsoever of testing cars at 64kmph and then failing them. Testing a car at 64 kmph by crashing it against a wall in lab conditions is equivalent to about 120 kmph speed in real life, road crash conditions," said an official of an automobile company, on anonymity .
In fact, Maruti Suzuki said in a statement: "All our products are safe. They meet the safety standards of India, and, in most cases, exceed them. The tests by Global NCAP are conducted at speeds higher than those prescribed by the regulatory authorities not only in India but in Europe and the US. The results of Global NCAP have to be seen in that perspective."
According to Global NCAP, Mahindra Scorpio scored zero stars in adult occupant protection and two stars in child occupant protection. In the crash test for the non-airbag Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Global NCAP said the model scored zero stars in adult occupant protection and one star in child occupant protection.
Mahindra & Mahindra said in a statement: "In fact, many models of ours exceed the expected regulations of 2019. The star rating released by Global NCAP (GNCAP) in the latest crash test was conducted on non-airbag variants of the Scorpio. Typically, in any star-rating process, non-airbag variants do not perform well on safety standards," it said.
Hyundai Eon is offered in the standard version without airbags and it scored zero stars in adult occupant protection and two in child occupant protection. Comments from Hyundai could not be immediately obtained. The non-airbag Eeco scored zero stars in the adult occupant protection and one star in child occupant protection.
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 "Global NCAP, David Ward, Maruti Celerio, Maruti Eeco, Renault Kwid, Mahindra Scorpio, Hyundai Eon, failed car crash tests")
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