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-   -   Govt asks automakers to stop selling vehicles with purposefully downgraded safety standards (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/233083-govt-asks-automakers-stop-selling-vehicles-purposefully-downgraded-safety-standards-3.html)

In the US, the insurance companies do their part by making lower safety rated cars more expensive to insure. I'm sure the companies here would only be happy with yet another excuse to raise prices

The title of the thread itself is misleading, the person quoted here is not in charge of policy. I don't remember seeing any report stating that a minimum crash rating will be necessary to sell cars. The reason why we have unsafe cars is because that is all we can afford, cars have to be sold at some of the lowest prices in the world and with the highest taxes. Manufacturers should not be forced to offer safe cars, they should do so because the customer demands it.

Safety might be the latest fad on this forum, but before Tata got their ratings(well done), there was absolutely no regard for it. MoRTH's idea of safety is speed warnings, textbook bureaucratic meddling, they have the nerve to call that an innovation. They set the bar really low, anyway, the quoted speaker was invited just to make sure he and his fellow minions don't cause any more damage to a tax burdened industry.

If government wants to promote safety, they should reduce the tax slightly and make a minimum four star rating (NCAP) mandatory.

The government could do better by bringing in proper legislation and regulation with respect to safety standards and crash testing. Advisories don't really help, eventually it's all about profits for the manufacturers.

The only way things change are:
1. Legislation (and implementation)
2. User awareness - we are far away from this happening anytime soon. The top 5 cars sold every month are probably the most unsafe ones too in their respective segments. We need the Tatas to start making more noise.
3. Social and economic upliftment so that people can actually afford the safer vehicles. Everything feature comes with an associated cost.

Its a good thing that the government has pointed out, but I doubt this will translate into any real action until there are serious consequences for downgrading a cars saftey.

Perhaps the government should make it mandatory to display the safety ratings on cars in big bold stickers in the showrooms.

Safety is always of utmost importance no doubt. But this should not be another excuse for the Manufacturers to make the offerings pricier. It should be cost to cost and standard across all variants .

Can the Government impose some standard to vehicle manufacturing to ensure the safety of its passengers?
Government can introduce emission norms that forces the manufactures to modify/introduce engines that satisfy the regulations.
So it he above can be done , can such an act/law be introduced in vehicle manufacturing ?
There will be lots of constraints as the shape, segment of the vehicle will determine the manufacturing process. And such introduction would cause heavy cost and modifications to be done to assembly line to make the changes.

Though I get what the government are saying, the reason why manufacturers are selling these models is because people will buy them. Safety is still not on the mind of the consumer and only when there is a demand for safer cars, will we have manufacturers meeting the safety standards. We are nation of people looking for ways to avoid wearing a seatbelt, even though manufacturers are required by law to install them, and the driver and passengers are required by law to wear them! How can we blame the manufacturers for just giving the nation what it wants? Ford follows a global standard of safety for its Indian products and Maruti follows the "Indian" standard; who sells more cars?

The government can do it's part and raise the standards for who gets a driver's license in the first place! That would solve 95% of the problems!

In India I do feel that the car manufacturers are downgrading the safety and also diluting the strength of the body shell.
This is a recent video from Global NCAP where they did a test of a pickup truck model from Africa (new one) with a second hand version of the same pickup truck from Europe and the results are in fact shocking. The entire body shell of the African version has crumbled and in case of a real accident it would be very difficult to extract the driver and the injuries may be very serious.
https://youtu.be/UL_2MdSTM7g

Cynical true, but corruption indicators do place the indian government at the top of the infamous list.

Further working with the government does mean that the majority are bribe takers.

The few exceptions even if they exist are hidden behind the smokescreen of corrupt officials.

Now coming to this point of the article, safety's good but the government's insistence on tracking everything is a bit concerning ( namely GPS etc )

Not praising the auto manufacturers but the challenge lies with the government itself. Taxes are sky high in India as compared to the US. A new BMW X3 in the US when converted into INR is cheaper than a new BMW X1 in India. This also forces the auto manufacturers to cut costs and provide us a sub-standard product by getting away with the lack of safety requirements mandated by the country.

On a related note, adjusting for the purchasing power parity (basis income levels, etc.) buying a car in India vs. US just feels like daylight robbery. Plus the increased cost of fuel

I would like to see the government walk the talk. Until then, it's just one off opinion if a reasonably aware officer in the department. Cause the same government, if I remember correctly, also practically almost banned usage of any but ISI branded helmets.

The Secretary was just voicing his opinion in a private event. This doesn't really translate into Govt.'s outlook regarding vehicle safety standards. If they are really concerned, this should be bound by legislation.

Considering all lobbying happening , this will be most unlikely.

Food for thought.

The cheapest Swift is around ~5.5L ex showroom in India, The UK spec costs ~15L.