In one appreciable move, the ministry of road transport on Tuesday proposed to make multiple airbags mandatory for passenger vehicles. The government has invited opinions from people on if they want mandatory airbags for front seated passengers.
As of now, carmakers are mandated to provide an airbag only for the driver seat.
Public opinion was sought as the inclusion of an additional airbag will surely raise the price of cars, which has already been increased recently by car manufactures to recover losses due to the pandemic.
Also Read: This Walnut Wood Carving Art From Kashmir Is Pristine, Age-less & A Blessing To The World
As per a report, all new car models manufactured from April 1, and existing models made from June 1, will have to meet the new guideline if approved.
Quoting the definite chance of an increase in the price of cars with two airbags, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) said, “FADA welcomes MoRTH’s intention for mandating dual front airbags. This is a much-needed safety norm which India should adopt and be at par with global standards.”
“We hope OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) absorb the major cost of input due to the second airbag as it will impact the sales in the short-term. It will be bad for the industry, which is able to show growth on MoM (month-on-month) basis, but still lags in YoY (year-on-year) basis after Covid-19 hit us hard,” FADA chief added.
Also Read: 17 Small Towns In India That You Can Visit For That Calm Yet Fun 2021 New Year Party
To note, the last increase in the price was noted when the government ordered the implementation of BS-IV emission norms to keep emissions from cars in check.
