Mahindra Scorpio-N Faces Setback with 0-Star Safety Rating in ANCAP, Prompts Commitment to Safety In a surprising turn of events, Mahindra & Mahindra’s Scorpio-N, launched in Australia and New Zealand, has received a 0-star safety rating in the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP). This comes as a stark contrast to its 5-star rating in the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) and has raised concerns among automotive enthusiasts in India.
Background: Launched in April 2023 in Australia and August 2023 in New Zealand, the Mahindra Scorpio-N, known as the Scorpio in these regions, is available in both six-seat and seven-seat variants. ANCAP evaluates vehicles across four key areas: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assists.
ANCAP Safety Ratings: The Scorpio-N scored 44% in Adult Occupant Protection, 80% in Child Occupant Protection, 23% in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and notably, 0% in Safety Assists in the ANCAP crash tests. The absence of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane support system (LSS), contributed to the low Safety Assists score.
Disparity in Safety Ratings: The disparity in safety ratings between GNCAP and ANCAP is attributed to the stricter testing protocols employed by ANCAP, requiring the inclusion of ADAS features. These features are currently unavailable in the Scorpio-N, leading to a significant impact on its safety rating.
Australian Safety Regulations: Australian safety regulations mandate the inclusion of ADAS features in all passenger and commercial vehicles. The Scorpio-N currently lacks these features, resulting in a 0% score in Safety Assists and only 23% in Vulnerable Road User Protection. The absence of a center airbag to prevent occupant-to-occupant interaction is also noted.
Manufacturer’s Response: Mahindra, in an official statement, emphasized its commitment to safety and highlighted the Scorpio-N’s earlier achievement as the first body-on-frame SUV in India to secure a 5-star safety rating. The company acknowledged the differences in safety regulations between India and Australia and pledged to meet the unique requirements for Australia in a product mid-cycle update.
Indian Market Perspective: Indian customers have been reassured that the Scorpio-N is a safe car, as demonstrated by its 5-star GNCAP rating. However, it lacks certain assisted driving features such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane support system, which are mandatory in Australia and New Zealand. Mahindra noted that the traffic situation in India is drastically different, and the low ANCAP safety rating should not be a concern for Indian buyers.
Conclusion: The Scorpio-N’s 0-star safety rating in ANCAP has sparked discussions about the importance of regional variations in safety standards. Mahindra’s commitment to addressing these differences and enhancing the Scorpio-N’s safety features underscores the dynamic nature of the automotive industry and the continuous efforts to meet evolving safety regulations globally. Buyers in different regions are urged to consider the specific safety requirements of their respective markets when evaluating vehicle safety ratings.