Manufacturers leading the way with advanced safety technologies, such as lane departure warning systems, blind spot monitoring, attention assist, autonomous braking and emergency call, will be rewarded with a new Euro NCAP Advanced rating.
Set to be introduced at the Paris Motor Show later this year, the Advanced rating intends to motivate manufacturers to further the development of safety technologies.
Chairman Andre Seeck said by launching such a rating, manufacturers would be incentivised to develop technologies for the reward and recognition.
“It will complement our existing ratings,” said Seeck. By rewarding technologies, often only fitted on luxury models or as options, “it will provide an incentive to manufacturers to accelerate introduction to a broader range of vehicles, bringing safety benefits to all.”
“We hope to add a new exciting dimension to our mission.”
Nick Illsey from governmental transport information service Transport Direct expressed concerns over how safety is defined and called for a clear, definitive measure.
“I think there is an issue of ‘what is safety?’, ‘what does it mean?'” he said. “A definition of safety should equal a Euro NCAP rating. Recognising Euro NCAP as the definition of safety is the most important thing.”
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