NEW DELHI: The federal government has deferred by a 12 months its plan to require automobile producers to supply six airbags in all passenger vehicles, Union street transport minister Nitin Gadkari mentioned on Thursday, citing international provide chain constraints.
“Security of all passengers travelling in motor autos no matter their value and variants is the foremost precedence. Contemplating the worldwide provide chain constraints being confronted by the auto business and its affect on the macroeconomic state of affairs, it has been determined to implement the proposal mandating a minimal of 6 Airbags in passenger vehicles (M-1 Class) w.e.f 01st October 2023,” Gadkari introduced on Thursday.
On January 14, the federal government put out a draft notification that proposed a change in guidelines to make six airbags obligatory in M1 class autos manufactured after October 1, 2022. The ultimate order notifying the change, nonetheless, was not issued.
M1 car class refers to passenger vehicles with a most of eight seats along with the driving force’s seat and contains hatchbacks, sedans, multi utility autos and sports activities utility autos.
As of now, two airbags are obligatory in all autos – one for the driving force and the opposite for the co-passenger n the entrance seat. The rule for airbags for the driving force’s seat was made obligatory from July 1, 2019, whereas the one for the co-passenger got here into impact from January 1 this 12 months.
To make certain, many Indian vehicles have already got six airbags of their prime variants priced above the ₹10-15 lakh segments. Automakers say including six airbags will lead to a minimal value escalation of about ₹7,500 per automobile.
A senior transport ministry official mentioned the first motive for deferring the implementation of the six-airbags rule by a 12 months was the dearth of capability to fulfill the sudden improve in demand for airbags.
“At current, we simply have about 5 producers who make airbags in India. Making six airbags obligatory in all vehicles would imply the demand might go as much as about 18-20 million a 12 months. So, we’re engaged on opening extra airbag manufacturing models within the nation,” mentioned the official requesting anonymity.
In keeping with the Society of Indian Vehicle Producers (SIAM), India’s complete passenger car gross sales elevated from 2,711,457 in 2020-21 to three,069,499 models in 2021-22.
Street security, significantly passenger security, in India has come underneath sharp focus after the dying of former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and his affiliate Jehangir Pandole in a street accident. Each of them have been on the automobile’s rear seats and weren’t sporting seat belts.
Final week, the federal government issued a notification to hunt public feedback on a plan to require automobile producers to introduce seat belt warning beepers for rear seats as properly.