There is currently no timeline as to when the new rules could be notified.
A senior government source told Reuters that India’s road transport ministry is pushing ahead with its decision to require six airbags in all passenger cars, despite resistance from some carmakers who say it will increase the cost of vehicles.
“There is no compromise on security. The ministry is finalizing the rules, which will take some time to be notified,” he said.
India in January issued draft guidelines requiring all new cars to have six airbags, four passenger airbags and two side or curtain airbags from October 1. The rules were expected to be finalized a month later, but is still analyzing feedback from auto companies, the source said.
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India’s biggest carmaker told Reuters that such a rule would make smaller cars more expensive and turn some potential buyers away, who can’t afford to spend more for a vehicle.
Driver and front passenger airbags are already mandatory in all cars.
The government estimates that adding four more airbags will cost no more than $75. However, auto market data provider Jato Dynamics estimates it could increase costs by at least $231.
“The cost implications are exaggerated. The ministry has consulted with airbag manufacturers on the cost and time required to manufacture the parts locally,” the person said.
Some companies export cars with additional airbags but the models they sell in India meet only the minimum requirements. Also, the top-end variants of the cars are usually fitted with four or more airbags, but the base model usually has just two, forcing people to pay more for their safety, he said.
“Carmakers should provide airbags as a matter of safety, it should not be mandated by the government. We have to push the rules because companies are not doing it on their own,” he said.
The ministry estimates that having airbags with seat belts would have saved at least a third of the 39,000 people who died in road accidents in 2020 from side- or side-to-side collisions.
(Reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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