Delhi

GNCAP mandates ESC for 2-star or above safety rating

Previously, ESC fitment in a car was mandatory for 3 stars or above.

1 min read•18 Sep '25

Saptarshi Mondal

10K+ views

The Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) has updated its crash-testing protocol, effective August 2025. The new protocol introduces a stricter mandate for ESC fitment, which will remain effective through 2029. The recently crash-tested Maruti Victoris was the first made-in-India car to be rated under the new Global NCAP protocol.

Without standard ESC, a vehicle automatically gets a 1-star rating
Maruti Victoris recently secured 5 stars under the updated protocol

Until now, ESC had been mandatory for a vehicle to secure 3 stars or higher. Additionally, fitting ESC in cars was a two-step process – as standard in the bestselling variant of the vehicle or in equal number in other variants. GNCAP also required manufacturers to make ESC standard across all variants within two years of the test result publication. In the same time period, it must also be offered as a ‘standalone’ option and not combined with any other feature.

Now, ESC must be fitted as standard across all variants of the tested model, without which a car will automatically be assigned a 1-star rating. Moreover, side-impact head protection must be a standard fitment across all variants of the vehicle. Without side-head protection systems, the pole side impact test will not be allowed, and a vehicle can only score a maximum of 2 stars.

Also, all variants of a vehicle must be compliant with pedestrian protection norms as per UN R127 or GTR9 standards for more than a 2-star rating. These latest updates build on GNCAP’s testing protocols that were last updated in July 2022.