Volkswagen criticized safety agency ANCAP for its withdrawal plan Passat’s five-star safety rating.
The German marque has defended its mid-size sedan and wagon, emphasizing the introduction of even more standard safety equipment since receiving the ANCAP rating in 2015.
That five-star rating is based on Euro NCAP testing conducted in 2014.
The Passat’s The Euro NCAP rating expired 12 months ago, although the ANCAP rating is still valid.
That will change on December 31, 2022 as the Passat and some other vehicles with a 2015 date stamp will lose their ANCAP rating.
ANCAP previously allowed a star rating to be applied as long as the vehicle remained in production. Specific case: Volkswagen’s own Amarok and Toyota LandCruiser Pradostill rated five stars despite not being tested for just over a decade.
It introduced a rating validity period in 2018, which means cars that have already been tested will need to be tested again after six years have passed.
The old vehicles have been “modernized” before, but their expiration date is December 31.
That means these cars require the full process of testing against the most up-to-date protocols, although ANCAP can rely on Euro NCAP testing to gauge its ratings when the two authorities harmonized their experimental protocols in 2018.
If Euro NCAP has tested a vehicle, manufacturers can provide technical data and display the vehicle’s specifications here as in Europe. In turn, ANCAP can evaluate this and apply the same rating.
“The majority of vehicle brands continue to do the right thing by making iterative improvements to the safety specification of their models – including,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg. including Volkswagen”.
“This approach is welcomed by ANCAP because it means consumers and fleets benefit from enhanced safety.
“The option for a vehicle brand to update its rating year data stamp through backtesting remains open and encouraged.”
Manufacturers like Toyota have sent their vehicles for re-inspection under newer, stricter protocols.
Current generation HiLuxFor example, it was tested in 2015 and then Toyota tested it again in 2019, meaning its rating has remained in place for six years from that date.
Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand Manager Michal Szaniecki said: “It is unclear whether ANCAP will withdraw the rating at a particular point solely for administrative convenience.
“It is clear that the Passat embodies ANCAP’s previously stated ideal that a model must become safer throughout its life cycle.
“Just as ANCAP rightly points out the lack of safety technology, why not include active and passive safety upgrades that aim to put a car at the forefront of technology for occupants? driver and bystander?”
The brand has indicated the standardization of a range of active safety features across the entire Passat range in 2020.
Including:
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- AEB – high speed and low speed with pedestrian detection
- AEB Parking
- Lane keeping assist
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
Furthermore, Volkswagen did not refrain from criticizing ANCAP for its “rubber” Euro NCAP rating.
“ANCAP does not conduct crash tests on European vehicles sold in this market, instead conducting routine tests,” the company said in its press release.
The Passat won’t be the only vehicle to lose its ANCAP rating on December 31, 2022. The following vehicles are also set to follow:
- Fiat 500: 2008 test, five stars
- LDV G10: 2015, three stars
- LDV V80: 2013, three stars
- Mazda 2: 2015, five stars
- Mazda CX-3: 2015, five stars
- Mini Hatch: 2014, four stars
- Mitsubishi ASX: 2014, five stars
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 2015, five stars
- Mitsubishi Triton: 2015, five stars
- Nissan Navara: 2015, five stars
- Suzuki Vitara: 2015, five stars
- Suzuki S-Cross: 2013, five stars
- Toyota Prado: 2011, five stars
- Volkswagen Amarok: 2011, five stars
ANCAP’s removal of generic ratings is believed to help reduce confusion for buyers, which was only partially mitigated by the introduction of date stamps in 2014.
After all, a car tested in 2011 like the Amarok and a car tested in 2021 like GWM Ute have been tested under significantly different protocols.
As part of the changes to rating validity announced in 2018, ANCAP also requires manufacturers to submit documentation four months before releasing an upgraded vehicle.
The authority will then review this information to determine if the car’s rating needs to be revoked, for example if the manufacturer has removed the safety device.
As an independent agency, ANCAP testing is not mandatory for car companies. However, five stars is a desired marketing tool and is required by some fleets.
The organization is financially supported by various state and territory auto clubs, as well as Federal and State Governments and insurance companies.
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