Nitin Gadkari, in announcing the new dates for the mandatory installation of six airbags, stated that “the safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles, regardless of their cost and variants, is the foremost priority.”
The Indian government has delayed the implementation of the six-airbag rule in vehicles. The announcement was made in a series of tweets by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways. He stated that the new rule requiring at least six airbags in cars will go into effect on October 1, 2023. On January 14, 2022, the government issued a draft notification requiring vehicles of category M1 (with up to 8 seats) manufactured after October 1, 2022, to have a minimum of 6 airbags.
“Safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority,” said Gadkari. “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 further added.
Certain automakers opposed the rule requiring six airbags in vehicles, claiming it would add an additional cost burden to customers who are already disheartened by recent price increases due to rising input costs. On the other hand, a few automakers have begun to include standard 6-airbags in their new vehicles.
The government issued a draft notification on January 14, 2022, which mandates that vehicles of category M1, manufactured after October 1, 2022, shall be fitted with two side/side torso airbags, one each for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions, and two side curtain/tube airbags, one each for the persons occupying outboard seating positions.
“Koshish toh hai” (We are trying), said Nitin Gadkari at a press conference a month ago when asked if the government would make a minimum of six airbags mandatory in vehicles carrying up to eight passengers beginning in October of this year.
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system that, during a collision, interferes between the driver and the vehicle’s dashboard, preventing serious injuries.
