Renault Kwid NCAP crash test
Three versions of Kwid, including one with airbags rated as zero star for adult safety. Pictured: Renault Kwid perfromting at NCAP crash testglobalncap.org/news

Update: 04.00 p.m. IST: Renault India Pvt. Ltd. on Tuesday said in a statement, "Safety is of paramount importance for Renault and all our products meet and exceed the requisite safety standards set by Indian Regulatory Authorities. India is gradually moving towards international safety norms by including more robust safety regulations and the assurance of the Bharat NCAP is a positive step in this direction. As a customer-focused company, Renault fully supports this initiative and we are already future-ready in terms of technology, design and engineering for enhanced safety for all our vehicles. Indian Government has announced that the crash test regulation for the existing cars will come into effect in 2019 and for the new cars in 2017. Renault is committed to comply with these timelines."

Original Story:

The latest Indian crash test results by global safety watchdog Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), released in Delhi, awarded zero stars to Renault's popular hatchback Kwid. The Renault Kwid was tested in three versions, including one with airbags, but each was rated with zero star for adult safety, Global NCAP updated on its website.

Global NCAP tested the standard version of the Kwid without airbags. It scored zero stars in adult occupant protection and two stars in child occupant protection. The collapse of the structure in the passenger compartment and the lack of airbags explained the poor result. Global NCAP also tested an updated evolution of the Kwid, in production from early April 2016, without an airbag. This also scored zero stars in the adult occupant protection and two stars in child occupant protection. The structure did not collapse, but it was rated as unstable as it could not withstand further loadings.

The third version of the Kwid was with the addition of driver airbag. This version also scored zero stars in the adult occupant protection and two stars in child occupant protection.

"The latest SaferCarsforIndia results show how important it is for cars to have a body shell that can remain stable in a crash. This is an absolutely crucial pre-requisite for occupant safety together with fitment at least of front air bags. It is very surprising that a manufacturer like Renault introduced the Kwid initially lacking this essential feature. Global NCAP strongly believes that no manufacturer anywhere in the world should be developing new models that are so clearly sub-standard," said David Ward, secretary general of Global NCAP, in a statement.

Renault has confirmed that they will implement further improvements to the Kwid and Global NCAP will test these new evolutions in forthcoming crash tests.