Renault’s Kwid minicar, one of the hottest-selling models on India’s car market, scored zero stars in an auto safety group’s crash tests for the second time since its introduction last year.
The Kwid model earned zero stars for adult passenger protection in versions with and without air bags, Global New Car Assessment Program (Ncap) said Tuesday. Renault produced about 5,000 units of the Kwid model most recently tested by the organisation, and the initial version the company built last year also scored no stars out of five, the group said.
Transport safety has come under the scrutiny of the prime minister Narendra Modi, who has pledged his government will introduce measures to reduce India’s average rate of one road death every four minutes. While Mr Modi expressed his concerns in July, a draft road transport and safety bill has yet to be introduced to parliament.
Maruti Suzuki India’s Celerio and Eeco, Hyundai Motor’s Eon and Mahindra & Mahindra’s Scorpio models each also scored zero stars, Global Ncap said. Representatives for the three companies did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.
All Renault models exceed safety standards set by Indian authorities, the company said. The car maker said it is committed to complying with crash-test regulations in India scheduled to take effect for new cars in 2017 and existing vehicles in 2019.
Global Ncap said Renault has sought to improve the Kwid’s safety performance since its initial introduction last year, and the group has not yet tested a fourth iteration of the model that began production this month.
The Kwid, introduced in May 2015, was the only model in India’s minicar segment to post a sales gain last month. The model, which starts from 262,113 rupees (Dh14,424), offers a driver side airbag as an optional feature, according to its website.
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