- 6 airbags to become mandatory from 1st October 2022.
- The government is also considering making electronic stability control (ESC), three-point belt control and some ADAS features mandatory.
In the recent Parliament session, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has once again announced that 6 airbags will be mandatory for all new cars from October 2022.
Backing his decision, Gadkari said that the auto industry is not happy with the move as prices will rise and demand will fall. However, his immediate concern is the safety of citizens on the roads, regardless of the model and its cost.
For those who aren’t aware, the Transport Ministry issued a draft notification in January this year to make 6 airbags compulsory for all cars as standard fitment that can carry up to 8 passengers. However, the exact details of the new regulation are still being worked out, and we expect it to be announced soon.
As of now, the Kia Carens is the only car in the sub 10 lakh bracket that offers six airbags from the entry-level variant. However, several models are offering up to 6 airbags under Rs 15 lakh, albeit with their higher-spec trims. These include facelifted Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Glanza, Hyundai i20, Skoda Slavia & Kushaq, Honda City, and many more.
In the other updates, MoRTH is also planning to mandate electronic stability control (ESC), three-point belts for all front-facing seats, and some ADAS features, which will further increase the prices. However, no concrete information has been revealed about this yet. In addition, India may also have its own star-based safety rating system that is likely to be cherished as BHARAT NCAP. Click here for more details.
