Tata Motors’ new Safari and Harrier SUVs have both received 5-star rating as per the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). The SUVs received full marks in both adult and child occupant protection categories. The coveted certification was handed over to the company representatives by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. The flagship Tata SUVs became the first 5-star recipients of the country’s indigenous crash test assessment.
Both Tata Safari and Harrier SUVs have been built on the OMEGARC architecture, derived from Land Rover’s renowned D8 Platform. They are also the recipients of 5-star rating from the Global NCAP programme. “Bharat-NCAP is a significant step forward as it provides customers with a credible, objective score to evaluate the safety aspects of various vehicles. Informed customers taking optimal decisions will further foster the rising preference for safer vehicles in the country,” said Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd.
Safety features on Tata Harrier and Tata Safari SUVs include seven airbags with six as standard across variants, Electronic Stability Control, three-point seatbelts in all rows, Seat Belt Reminder for all passengers, Isofix tethers, seatbelts with retractor, pretensioner, Load Limiter (RPLL) and anchor pretensioner. Further, reinforced cabin structure has been enhanced to provide symmetric crash performance and side pole impact.
Bharat NCAP is the country’s first indigenous car safety performance evaluation protocol, which was launched by the government in August this year. “(It) is India’s independent, atmanirbhar voice on vehicle safety. It is benchmarked to the best-in-class global standards and the Bharat-NCAP vehicle rating system is designed to advance road safety and vehicle safety standards beyond mandatory regulations. I’m delighted that the first ever vehicles being certified today with the highest achievable 5-star rating, are both from Tata Motors. I congratulate them on award of this coveted certification with the highest possible ratings and for continuing to enrich their legacy of introducing the safest vehicles on Indian roads,” said Gadkari.