re: Renault Lodgy scores a zero in the Global NCAP tests We have known the Kwid to get four stars for the export model exported to Brazil and a few other countries. The Kwid sold here has scored zero. And the Lodgy scoring a zero has such a clarification from the company spokesperson. I believe the spokesperson will excel as a political leader of a national political party. He or she should change his profession for a more rewarding career : Quote:
The NCAP test report and the "politician spokesperson's" clarification :
"The zero star result was partly due to the lack of airbags which caused the head and chest to impact the steering wheel. The car also showed an unstable structure during the crash with deformations even in the rear door and a rupture in the footwell area during the crash," the report notes.
The Lodgy was given two stars for child occupant protection, and Global NCAP's report explains the lack of Isofix child seat anchorages could prove to be dangerous in the event of a crash.
"The lack of Isofix anchorages meant that the child seats needed to be installed with adult seatbelts, that could not prevent excessive forward excursion of the 3-year old dummy which impacted its head on the driver seat backrest," states the report.
Commenting on the Lodgy's performance, David Ward, Secretary General, Global NCAP, said "The zero-star Renault Lodgy is extremely disappointing. Global NCAP had hoped that Renault had learned from the difficult experience they had with the Kwid. It’s time now for Renault to make front airbags standard across their entire Indian product range."
In response to the test results, Renault India said that its products meet the norms prescribed by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which is the current norm in India, "Our products are ARAI certified, which is the current mandate in India."
It also said that Global NCAP's tests are conducted at speeds higher than those prescribed by regulatory authorities in India and in developed markets. "The results of Global NCAP have to be seen in that perspective," according to a company statement. "As India is gradually moving towards international safety and emission norms by including more robust regulations, Renault will be ready for the upcoming safety regulations and BS-VI norms." it added.
It's worth noting that only the top-spec Lodgy, the RxZ, gets an airbag for the driver and co-passenger. The base Standard (Rs 8.33 lakh) and RxE (Rs 9.34 lakh) variants get no airbags. In the past, Global NCAP has also tested the Kwid four times and Duster, two times. The hatchback received a zero-star rating three times for the base variant, and a one-star rating for the variant with a driver airbag.
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What the hell is the definition of safety for our car makers ? We need to fully blame our Road, Transport and Highways Ministry for sleeping over the NCAP safety rating issue, since nearly a decade allowing these "fly by night" car makers or money makers, deliver substandard products to injure or kill the customers. We have lost thousands of precious lives due to unsafe cars , when the developed world already woke up and enumerated the mandatory standards of safety for their automobiles, in keeping with the contemporary global best practices . We are now due to implement the NCAP star ratings wef Oct 2019 for all new car models and from Oct 2020 for existing models to upgrade.
Hence, with such loopholes the carmakers have found a treasure trove of money and a haven to sell unsafe cars and injure or kill customers, by manufacturing such cars. The irony is that the very same assembly line makes cars with four star ratings for export.
Luckily the Renault Lodgy is a LEMON and does not sell over 100 units per month. During August 2018, it sold 54 units only. Renault's overall market share during August 2018 was 2.32 % that includes all its car models [total car sales 6557 units, down from 9585 units sold in August 2017(teambhp figures)] - they have built a poor brand image that is likely to go down further unless they correct themselves, which we believe they never will going by past precedents. Renault's sales figures' break up modelwise for August 2018 is :
Captur 349
Duster 613 (its used to sell 3000- 4000 units every month about four to five years back)
Kwid 5541
Lodgy 54
The model range at the same time is becoming staid and dated. The Kwid appears to be their bread and butter model. But for how long with the zero star (one star with a single airbag) rating ? Ignorant customers are the ones who are most gullible.
The major fault can be traced to the decision making process of the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry. The car maker is abiding by extant laws and as the "politician of a spokesperson" says, their cars comply with ARAI norms. And their grouse is that the NCAP tests' the cars at higher speeds compared to that to be soon prescribed by the Govt of India. There is again a big LOW SPEED loophole (lower speeds than usually prescribed and tested by NCAP globally) that carmakers are bound to exploit come 2019/2020. Renault is not proactive like many others, who instantly decided to upgrade their car's safety ratings.
We can only hope that our bureaucrats and politicians will involve technical experts in decision making and desist from making such major follies, which is injuring or killing car occupants ? Or else, doom days are ahead with many more such follies likely to be committed !
Last edited by anjan_c2007 : 30th September 2018 at 00:04.
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