Global NCAP asks Nissan to withdraw Datsun Go from India

UK based Global New Car Assessment Programme organization has asked Nissan India, Datsun's parent company, to withdraw the Datsun Go hatchback from the Indian market as the non-profit organization found its body structure unsafe in a recent crash test. Global NCAP conducted a crash test recently in which the Datsun Go and Maruti Suzuki Swift scored zero-star safety rating out of five in adult occupant protection. The Go’s structure collapsed in a frontal impact crash test and it was deemed unstable. Global NCAP is yet to make a comment on the Swift.

Global NCAP Chairman Max Mosley has now written to Nissan Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, calling for an urgent withdrawal of the Datsun Go from the Indian and related markets. Max Mosley, Global NCAP Chairman said, “It is extremely disappointing that Nissan has authorised the launch of a brand new model that is so clearly sub-standard. As presently engineered the Datsun Go will certainly fail to pass the United Nation’s frontal impact regulation. In these circumstances I would urge Nissan to withdraw the Datsun Go from sale in India pending an urgent redesign of the car’s body-shell.”

SIAM director general Vishnu Mathur lashed out at Global NCAP and accused it of scaremongering. "Every country has its own safety requirements. Our cars are meeting safety norms set by the government," Mathur said on Wednesday. SIAM in defence of Maruti Suzuki and Nissan has said that the carmakers meet the Country’s safety norms. 

In January 2014, popular cars like the Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai i10, Ford Figo and Volkswagen Polo and Tata Nano also underwent Global NCAP’s crash tests and all cars received zero-star adult crash protection ratings. Soon after, Volkswagen made two airbags as standard fitment on all variants and consequently earned a four-star rating.