Mandatory Six Airbags Deadline Pushed To October 2023

The rule was supposed to be implemented from October this year, but has been pushed by a year! 

• Six airbags will be mandatory for all cars from October 2023. 

• The deadline has been extended by a year due to the global supply chain constraints. 

• The cost of fitting side airbags will be minor, but the installation of curtain airbags will be a costly affair. 

• The announcement will come as a relief to car manufacturers. 

Breaking news! The rule making the fitment of six airbags as standard in all new cars sold in India will be put into effect from October 2023. It was supposed to take effect from October 2022, but as confirmed by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, has been pushed back by a year. 

Due to the global supply chain constraints that also affects the auto industry, the deadline to fit six airbags in cars as standard has been pushed back. So now, car manufacturers have a year-long breather before they must mandatorily begin equipping their products with at least six airbags. 

Also Read: Proven: More Airbags Do Not Guarantee Increased Safety

When it was first announced, the rule was met with resistance from several manufacturers as it might result in the end of some entry-level cars’ journey in India. As per the government, each airbag costs Rs 800 only. While fitting side airbags won’t be costly, installing the curtain airbags will be a pricey affair as cars which do not come with them as standard will have to be re-engineered, thereby increasing production costs further. 

• Why 6 Airbags Will Only Make A Small Impact On Improving Car Safety In India

• Top 7 Cars Under Rs 10 Lakh With More Than Two Airbags

With this change, many cars will see their price hiked significantly. As per our estimates, cars could get dearer by around Rs 30,000 when the six airbags rule comes into effect. For entry-level cars like the Maruti Alto, Wagon R, Tata Tiago, and Renault Kwid, the price hike would affect their value proposition. Currently, there are some cars which offer six airbags from around Rs 10 lakh, like the Hyundai i20, Maruti Baleno, and Kia Carens.