New C-NCAP rules to be implemented next July

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C-NCAP, the official car testing facility in China,  indicated on its website that the C-NCAP Management Rules (2012 Edition) has been released. Its evaluation procedures and standards are close to European standards, and will be implemented from July 1^st, 2012.

The 2012 Edition changes a lot from the previous evaluation system, collision speed and test items. The evaluation of the back-row dummy is included into the evaluation system. The test speed of the frontal 40% overlapping deformable barrier crash is raised from 56km/h to 64km/h. The neck protection test under low-speed crash is added. The active safety programs are also introduced to the C-NCAP evaluation system.

The total scores of the new edition are revised from 51 points to 62 points. The classification criteria also changes. The more severe management rules will pose new challenges to automakers.

Since the C-NCAP evaluation system was established in 2006, 59 models have been granted five-star ratings, accounting for 43% of the total tested models, and 35 models have won four-star ratings, accounting for nearly 26% of the total models. The low evaluation standard has aroused industry doubts over the C-NCAP system.