Latin American Countries Denied Safer Vehicles

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) today welcomed the publication of Phase 2 of the Latin American NCAP results but expressed its strong concern over the safety levels of vehicles sold in Latin American countries.

Results include 4 star ratings for the Ford Focus Style, Chevrolet Cruze, and Nissan Tiida, 3 star ratings for the Fiat Patio ELX and the VW Golf Trend, while the Nissan March and the Peugeot 207 only scored a 2 star rating.

These ratings follow the first phase of Latin American NCAP results published in 2010 which included ratings from zero stars for the Geely CK to 4 stars for the Toyota Corolla. 7 other vehicles were rated 1 star in the earlier release including the Peugeot 207, the VW Golf Trend, the Fiat Patio, the Chevrolet Ceita and Corsa Classic, the Ford Ka and the Fiat Novo.

The Chairman of ANCAP, Lauchlan McIntosh, expressed dismay at these poor results and said that vehicle manufacturers needed to do much more to improve the safety of vehicles sold into developing countries.

The results demonstrated many vehicles still without airbags and even more concerning, sub-standard, 20 year old structures.

“At the beginning of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety it is simply not good enough for sub standard, considerably unsafe vehicles to be sold anywhere in the world.

“Road trauma around the world accounts for 3,500 deaths and 100,000 serious injuries every day – the lion’s share of these are in developing countries.

“ANCAP calls on vehicle manufacturers to sell the same 5 star rated vehicles that are sold in Australia to consumers in all countries.”

Latin NCAP is a joint initiative of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the FIA Foundation, the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP), the Fundacion Gonzalo Rodriguez, the Inter-American Development Bank and International Consumer Research & Testing.

ANCAP as Australasia’s leading independent vehicle safety advocate and as a member of GNCAP supports and applauds the work of Latin American NCAP.

ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, all Australian state governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.

For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings and other vehicle safety information, go to www.ancap.com.au
For a full list of the Latin American NCAP results go to http://www.latinncap.com/_en/?pg=home

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.