China To Improve Crash Test Standards… And Not A Moment Too Soon
Chinese automakers are delaying exports to Europe and the US until after 2015, largely because they admit their products aren’t “ready for primetime.” And few issues demonstrate that fact as well as the scandalous crash test videos that have defined internet perceptions of Chinese cars for years now. But with even more recent Chinese export-intenders continuing to put up lousy safety results, Autobild reports that, starting in 2012, China will improve its crash test standards to near-European levels.
Called C-NCAP, the new standard is modeled on EUropean NCAP rules, and raises the bar significantly. For example, Chinese cars will now be crashed at 64 km/h instead of 56 km/h. Anti-whiplash and other active safety measures will also be tested, as will results for rear-seat passengers in addition to front-seat passengers. And in order to include these additional test results, the maximum points available are going up from 51 to 62.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Love that standard airbag system that goes right over your shoulder as your face impales itself on the door hinge.
So what would it take to create a world crash and pollution standard so that vehicles could easily be sold around the globe? Political and corporate objections primarily? How close are European and U.S. standards now?