[mxh]

Originally Posted by ashwin1224

I really doubt you can get a car to cost under 5 lac and still have a respectable crash score. And the simple truth is that the majority of people do not want to pay more than that, either they are unwilling, or they just simply cannot afford to. If in such a scenario we expect the govt to enforce safety norms, it would obviously increase the base price of all cars in the lower segment, and that govt will forever be labelled as the govt which made it near impossible for the middle-class to buy a 4 wheeler. No govt would dare touch this issue.

You are over estimating how much it costs to build safety on mass scale. How come the US equivalent of the cars sold in India cost more in India than US even though they have less safety features? This is again the government's fault, due to the high tax rates. It's just the same thing for stuff like Emission Norms. Unless the government updates the laws do you think any manufacturer will voluntarily adopt them? This situation is completely the government's fault and no one else's.

[jetsetgo08]

Originally Posted by mxh

You are over estimating how much it costs to build safety on mass scale.

Pardon me for the long post.

I will have to disagree on that one. There hasn't been a great deal of price increase in cars like Alto, Wagon R that used to cost around 2.5-4L more than a decade ago. Considering the inflation, even with the advent of newer cost saving methodologies in production/manufacturing, the price increase can be termed 'less' at best when compared to other segments.

However, to keep prices in check the manufacturers have resorted to cutting costs from the build quality aspect, which is very evident from crash tests/accidents. And this comes from the fact, as some manufacturers claim, a poorly built 4-wheeler is much better than 2-wheels. Can't blame the manufacturers on this point, as the A,B1-segments are purely for the price sensitive customers who(usually) cannot afford more to upgrade to better/safer cars. [Tiago is an exception w.r.t build quality, kudos to TATA].

As someone rightly pointed out, the solution probably lies in strict traffic rules with heavy penalties, educating everyone with better driving habits. It's a long shot but not impossible.

OT: An encouraging trend is that many are going the used car way to own better/safer cars for the same budget.

[krishnakarthik1]

This was expected. It just feels really tinny and lite when you drive the kwid. Got rid of the amt a few months back and must say it never really inspired confidence. After 70 kmph the vehicle starts to vibrate. Except the ride quality everything was pretty poor including the service.

Coming to govt. if it interferes there is too much and if it does not there is too little. What is the govt. but all of us? Someone buying a car is old enough to vote then he or she should be able to decide what car to buy. It's a free market.

The govt. should introduce an Indian NCAP and make it mandatory for all cars to show the rating sticker on the car. Thats all and let the buyer decide.

[blackwasp]

Not surprised there, however unless the customer wakes up and starts telling dealers that they are not buying Kwid or another same segment car due to lack of safety features, no manufacturer will take notice.

Look at MSIL - a company offering on safety on the top variants now offers standard abs ebd and airbags atleast on their newer cars. Adapt and customers will see the value.