Six Airbags Mandate Shifted to October 1, 2023

Ministry of Road Transportation and Highways proposed to move the implementation date for six airbags to October 1, 2023.

Mandate for Six Airbags Shifted to October 1, 2023

Following consideration of stakeholder comments, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposed, in draught GSR 751(E) dated September 30, 2022, to move the implementation date for six airbags to October 1, 2023.

Previously, the Ministry proposed in draught GSR 16(E) dated January 14, 2022, that vehicles of category M1 manufactured after October 1, 2022, be equipped with two side/side torso airbags, one for each person in the front row outboard seating positions, and two side curtain/tube airbags, one for each person in the front row outboard seating positions. The M1 category includes vehicles used for passenger transportation that have no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.

According to a news release issued by the Ministry, the fixed cost of an airbag is decided by market forces and is a function of the volume of the vehicle type manufactured.

However, the projected variable cost for four airbags (two side airbags and two curtain airbags) is roughly INR 6,000.

According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), just 17% of the total monthly sales volume of 327,730 passenger automobiles, or 55,264 cars, are equipped with six airbags.

According to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the country's present airbag production capacity is 22.7 million units, with a capacity increase to 37.2 million units expected next year.

The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, notified by the government for automobiles and automobile components, among other things, provides incentives for airbag applications, such as airbag inflators, airbag electronic control units, and airbag sensors, according to the Ministry.

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