Govt to implement minimum 6 airbags per car rule from October 1 next year

Gadkari said the government has decided to implement the proposal mandating a minimum of 6 airbags in passenger cars from October 1, 2023.

ET Now Digital

Updated Sep 29, 2022, 14:54 IST

(Representational image) All passenger cars to be fitted with 6 airbags from Oct 1: Gadkari

Photo : PTI

Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the government will implement the proposal to fix all passenger cars in the M-1 category with airbags from October 1, 2023.

“Safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority,” said Gadkari in a tweet today.

“Considering the global supply chain constraints being faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic scenario, it has been decided to implement the proposal mandating a minimum of 6 Airbags in Passenger Cars (M-1 Category) w.e.f 01st October 2023,” he added.

The rule mandating each passenger car to be equipped with 6 airbags was supposed to be implemented in 2022 but has been postponed due to supply chain constraints faced by automakers.

The new rule essentially means that all the front-facing seats in "M1" category vehicles, manufactured on or after October 1, 2022, shall come fitted with six airbags, including side airbags.

In August this year, the minister clarified while speaking in the Rajya Sabha that the new rules would be implemented from October 1 and that the new rule change was notified, asserting that new norms are being introduced to ensure the safety of vehicle users.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Gadkari said in 2020, a total of 8,598 lives could have been saved with the use of airbags after head-on collisions of vehicles. He also said that the end cost per airbag to buyers would be Rs 800, a minuscule price to pay for enhanced safety.

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