The same frontal impact test that is included in similar programmes in Australia, Europe and North America was used
The Latin NCAP stakeholders line up at the launch ceremony in Montevideo, Uruguay
Major car manufacturers have been put to the test as Latin NCAP, the first ever independent crash testing programme for Latin American and the Caribbean has revealed the safety performance of popular car models bought by consumers in the region.
The first nine cars to be tested by this groundbreaking programme, which is supported by the FIA Foundation, have been put through a rigorous assessment process. The Latin NCAP testing has been developed using knowledge and expertise from other established NCAP ‘New Car Assessment Programmes’ around the world.
The cars tested are among the most popular models bought by consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean. They are: TOYOTA Corolla XEI; CHEVROLET Meriva GL Plus; FIAT Palio ELX 1.4 (with and without airbags); VW Gol Trend 1.6 (with and without airbags); Peugeot 207 Compact 5p 1.4 (with and without airbags); Geely CK 1 1.3.
The cars were selected on the basis of their popularity. Additionally, the Toyota and Chevrolet were tested as those models are also assessed by Euro NCAP, the European programme. The results show that the cars sold in Latin America and the Caribbean have performed worse than their counterparts tested by Euro NCAP.
They show a full range of results from four stars for adult occupant safety as the top performer to zero stars for the car with lowest levels of safety as shown in testing. The cars were subjected to the same frontal impact test at 64km/h that is included in similar consumer test programmes in Australia, Europe and North America.
During the first phase of Latin NCAP, the nine selected vehicles were purchased and sent to certified laboratories to be assessed, tested and inspected. Of these nine, three were tested with and without airbags. These models are sold in the region both with and without airbags and the manufacturers requested Latin NCAP to test both versions.
Nani Rodriguez, Executive Secretary of Latin NCAP and President of the Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation said:
“We are introducing Latin NCAP to Latin America and the Caribbean because we want to see a dramatic improvement in the safety of cars across our region. Our ultimate and most important aim is to save people’s lives. These results are just the start and we want manufacturers and Governments to work together to raise the standard of vehicle safety and help achieve our mission.”
Carlos Macaya, Chairman of the FIA Foundation said: “The Latin NCAP independent crash testing programme is a first for Latin America and the Caribbean. It follows closely from long experience in other parts of the world where NCAPs have been established to provide authoritative data on safety for drivers, passengers and children. The challenge now is to further develop Latin NCAP so that we can save thousands of lives during the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.”
Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP, said “We congratulate the partners in Latin NCAP for taking this important step for the Latin American and Caribbean region. Latin NCAP will not only contribute to raising the standards of car safety and to increasing the levels of protection given to drivers, adult passengers and children, but also help increase much needed public awareness about the importance of safer road transport.”
The launch of Latin NCAP took place simultaneously in Montevideo, Uruguay and São Paulo, Brazil on 18 October. Brazilian consumer association Proteste is hosting the São Paulo launch.
Latin America is a rapidly growing automobile market and source of vehicle production. It is also experiencing high levels of road fatalities and serious injuries. Latin NCAP is the first independent programme to be established in one of the world’s newly motorising regions and is a historic step forward in the availability of consumer crash test information.
Currently, ‘NCAP’ crash testing programmes exist in the Asia, Australia, Europe, and the US, and have contributed significantly to reduced level of death and injury on the road. It is expected that initiatives like Latin NCAP will contribute significantly to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, as part of a wider programme which could save five million lives on the world’s roads if successfully implemented.
Major international organisations have joined forces in setting up Latin NCAP. They are the FIA Foundation for the Automobile & Society, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) and the Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation (GRMF). The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has also supported the programme.
Click here for an overview of the results >
Click here for full detailed results including: protection ratings graphics for different parts of the body; full summaries of testing experience for adult and child occupants; and an overview of child restraints and safety equipment >
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