Nitin Gadkari: Airbag Costs Just Rs 800, Six Airbags Should Soon Be Mandatory

• Six-airbag rule to be implemented from October. 

• Will accompany other improvements to standard car safety kit such as ESC. 

• New Bharat NCAP crash test safety norms to be implemented in April 2023. 

• Infrastructure support for EVs and new developments in EV batteries and hydrogen announced in recent times. 

The Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has said that airbags for rear seat passengers will save lives, and that the government is working to make six airbags mandatory in all new cars. 

Proceedings for the new rule will start soon and it will be implemented in October 2022, as announced earlier. Under the new rule, all new cars will have to provide side and curtain airbags as standard across all variants. 

वाहनों में 6 एयरबैग और इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों को बढ़ावा दिए जाने के संबंध में लोकसभा में केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्री @nitin_gadkari जी का उत्तर। #QuestionHour pic.twitter.com/xZp6pfhMig

— Office Of Nitin Gadkari (@OfficeOfNG) August 4, 2022

Six Airbags to become mandatory for all new cars 

In a response to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari reiterated the importance of airbags for rear passengers, saying that it’ll help to save lives. He also said that an airbag costs just Rs 800, likely referring to the fact that airbags have a relatively low cost per unit for the manufacturer. 

The addition of side and curtain airbags, especially for a vehicle not designed for six airbags, requires research, tooling and raw materials and other considerations that add to the cost of the car. As a consumer, you can expect to pay a premium of around Rs 25,000 for the extra four airbags than the current standard dual front. That said, airbags aren’t the only consideration in car safety, and even cars with six airbags have scored sub-par safety ratings in crash tests. 

• Car Safety In India: Nitin Gadkari Slams Carmakers For Poor Safety Standards

• Kia Carens Scores Three Stars In Global NCAP Crash Test, Six Airbags Don't Aid Score As Body Rated Unstable

The new rule will make it compulsory for carmakers to offer side and curtain airbags in all cars manufactured from the date of implementation, October 1, 2022. 

On a side note, new Bharat NCAP norms are expected to be implemented from April 1, 2023. Bharat NCAP will award safety ratings to cars sold in India based on crash tests performed by government-approved testing centres such as the International Centre for Automtive Technology (ICAT).

• Bharat NCAP Approved To Begin Crash Testing Cars In India

EV Infrastructure to improve 

The transport minister also acknowledged the rising demand for electric vehicles, saying that electric vehicle chargers are being installed on highways by the National Highway Authority (NHAI). In addition, the government is facilitating the installation of EV chargers in parking lots and office buildings.

He also announced that Indian Oil is developing an aluminium-air battery that offers a driving range of 450km.