LATIN AMERICA NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – Latin NCAP to be launched

10.13.2010

Latin America and the Caribbean will on 18 October 2010 see the launch of ‘Latin NCAP’, a ground breaking region-wide independent crash testing programme for car safety. For the first time consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to compare the safety performance of new cars from leading global brands. 

The launch will take place simultaneously in Montevideo, Uruguay and São Paulo, Brazil. The São Paulo launch is being hosted by Brazilian consumer association, Proteste. Latin NCAP will release test results of nine models from the popular small vehicle class using the same frontal impact test that is included in similar consumer test programmes in Australia, Europe and North America. 

Latin America is a rapidly growing automobile market and source of vehicle production. It is also experiencing high levels of road fatalities and serious injuries. Latin NCAP is the first independent programme to be established in one of the world’s newly motorising regions and is a historic step forward in the availability of consumer crash test information. 

To encourage a ‘market for safety’ that will promote safer cars and help reduce road injury, the first ever global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Moscow last November recommended the creation of regional NCAPs. 

Currently, ‘NCAP’ crash testing programmes exist in the Asia, Australia, Europe, and the US, and have contributed significantly to reduced level of death and injury on the road. It is expected that initiatives like Latin NCAP will contribute significantly to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, as part of a wider programme which could save five million lives on the world’s roads if successfully implemented.

Major international organisations have joined forces in setting up Latin NCAP. They are the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the FIA Foundation for the Automobile & Society, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) and the Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation (GRMF). From Europe, the Euro NCAP crash testing programme has served as the technical partner for Latin NCAP.  

Nani Rodriguez, Executive Secretary of Latin NCAP and President of the GRMF said:

“With Latin NCAP, for the first time, consumers across Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to see exactly how safe their cars really are. We want to raise the standards of car safety, to increase the levels of protection given to drivers, passengers and children. Ultimately, we want to save lives on the roads in our region and Latin NCAP is crucial for achieving this.” 

The cars assessed by Latin NCAP have been subjected to impact crash testing and safety equipment, including airbags and seatbelts, for drivers, passengers and children has been rated. Separate star ratings for the safety of adults and children have been given, with five stars awarded for the best possible performances.  

The launches of Latin NCAP will take place at the Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo Uruguay and at Renaissance Hotel, São Paulo, Brazil.

Notes for editors

• During the first phase of Latin NCAP, nine vehicles of different origin and make were purchased and sent to certified laboratories to be assessed, tested and inspected.
• The results of the tests will be released on 18 October at the launches.
• The launch events will begin at 11.00 am and end at 01.30 pm.
• For further information visit www.latinncap.com