[psankar]

Dual SRS Airbags as standard application on all Honda models by Apr' 17

The company also announced its Safety Direction for India that every new Honda model, introduced in the market from new fiscal year 2016 – 17 will apply Dual SRS as standard equipment across all variants. Also, Dual SRS Airbags will become standard offering across Honda line-up, including current models, by April 2017. Additionally, the customers of the new Amaze can opt for Dual SRS airbags from the base variant, and the bookings for these variants will begin from May this year.

Press release:
https://www.hondacarindia.com/mediac...aspx?pr_id=366

[libranof1987]

Too late; why do they have to wait until April '17 for current models?!

Absolutely not cynical when I say we should not term this as "a good move by Honda" and be happy about it.

Maybe a few months; definitely not more than a year to implement this policy. It is disheartening to note that a company like Maruti which was notorious for skimming safety features has a quicker response than Honda (esp. when the City had dual airbags as standard until only a few years back).

[TheStranger]

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[Rajeevraj]

As indicated in the press release, the refreshed Amaze will get Dual Airbags as an Option starting April 2016 itself.

If they can do it for Amaze from April 2016, they should do it for Jazz also. All the other major premium hatchbacks get dual airbags as standard (Baleno, Figo, Polo, i20) Even mid range hatchbacks like the Liva, KUV100, Swift get Airbags at least as an option.

[heavenlybull]

Honda has been the back bencher in recent years when it comes to offering safety features in their cars in India; now they are being forced to offer safety features because of competition and upcoming safety norms.

Its actually funny how many times they have used the word premium in the press release; I fail to see whats premium in any Honda car these days. Even Maruti and Hyundai cars feel more premium than Hondas now.

[GTO]

Just to offer some more clarity as there is confusion:

1. Every new Honda model, introduced in the market from April 2016 onward, will have dual airbags standard across all variants.

2. Current models will gradually get this by April 2017.

Originally Posted by heavenlybull

Honda has been the back bencher in recent years when it comes to offering safety features in their cars in India

So true! This is especially surprising as, at one time, all Hondas sold in India had ABS & Dual Airbags as standard.

[manishkapadia]

Why should this take a year to implement? Are they for phasing out products like Brio and will then implement this, so that they can claim Airbags as standard. In my opinion they should start offering Safety option packs at 30K like how Maruti does for the Swift and Dzire cousins. But hold on, that eats into profit margins. So better to just announce it so that we do not get bashed for being behind in providing safety.

[landcruiser123]

I would be excited if that '2017' was '2016.' The faster you change your safety standard, the better.

They shouldn't even put this news it it's a long time till it's implemented.
Toyota and Maruti didn't put it in the news until they had the cars with the safety features ready.

[sakthishanmugam]

Good news! Automobile companies always catch up with competition. In this case, it all started with Toyota, then Maruti and other companies will follow suit. I wouldn't appreciate this as safety initiative because adding Airbags without strong build quality will result in serious injuries. Hope our Indian government wakes up and publish safety standards for all vehicles sold in India.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by GTO

Just to offer some more clarity as there is confusion:

1. Every new Honda model, introduced in the market from April 2016 onward, will have dual airbags standard across all variants.

2. Current models will gradually get this by April 2017.

The models planned in 2016 seems to be the BRV and the HRV by early 2017 as rumours suggest. Both of these are premium products and should be priced around 15L on-road. Also, BRV would be Honda's most premium offering built for India till the HRV arrives. Not offering standard airbags on these would be atrocious!

And they skipped this feature on the new launch - facelift Amaze, proving that facelift launches are going to miss this upgrade. Hence, that 2016 onward statement from Honda should be taken with a pinch of salt IMO.

That said, better late than never!

Originally Posted by manishkapadia

Why should this take a year to implement?

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

I would be excited if that '2017' was '2016.' The faster you change your safety standard, the better.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Too late; why do they have to wait until April '17 for current models?!

Let us not forget that a good number of Honda cars sold in India are having faulty airbag inflators. And Honda has issued the recall which is being done by the service centers whenever a car is taken for regular service. Almost 3 lakh cars is not a small number.

Probably Honda needs time to first sort out issues with the cars already sold with airbags (But with faulty inflators that make them useless) as compared to the newer cars in the market, which are knowingly bought by people who don't care about safety. Lets not forget, there are optional variants available for people who want a safety pack.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...y-airbags.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ag-defect.html
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...y-airbags.html

Originally Posted by sakthishanmugam

In this case, it all started with Toyota, then Maruti and other companies will follow suit.

Nopes. IIRC, it all started with Volkswagen first, then Toyota.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Let us not forget that a good number of Honda cars sold in India are having faulty airbag inflators. And Honda has issued the recall which is being done by the service centers whenever a car is taken for regular service. Almost 3 lakh cars is not a small number.

Probably Honda needs time to first sort out issues with the cars already sold with airbags (But with faulty inflators that make them useless) as compared to the newer cars in the market, which are knowingly bought by people who don't care about safety. Lets not forget, there are optional variants available for people who want a safety pack.

Flawed logic. If this were the case, Honda shouldn't sell any car with Airbags. Or more so, why an "optional" safety pack?!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Flawed logic. If this were the case, Honda shouldn't sell any car with Airbags. Or more so, why an "optional" safety pack?!

Doesn't numbers matter when procuring parts?

3 lakh cars under the recall scanner means 1.5x times the total number of cars they produced in 2015. Suppose they go ahead and implement standard airbags - Adding another 2 lakh new cars requiring airbags for 2016 would take the number to almost 5 lakh cars. Compare this to 50k to 1 lakh cars that would have sold earlier (as per their estimate) with the optional safety pack, the parts requirements suddenly is at 10x times their earlier estimates if they implement the new standard airbags rule.

Might be flawed logic. But I really don't see any other reason for Honda to delay the introduction of variants with better safety features as standard.
Do you?

[manishkapadia]

I think that if the S variants of say a Honda Brio or JAZZ will also come with ABS and Airbabs, then far lesser number of people would buy the more expensive V models.
Honda definately would have more profits selling the more expensive V models. In my opinion Airbag is now a commoditised item in the Automobile world and does not need tweaking in factory lines or anything like that. It is also outsourced by all manufacturers. No one makes them on their own. Its doable in a very short time and profits are the only reason why it is not being done immediately.