Pune, 04 April 2023 - Reaffirming its leadership position as the manufacturer of India’s safest cars, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India’s sedans - Škoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus have achieved 5 star rating for both Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection, the highest in the Global NCAP crash tests. With this feat, the Volkswagen Virtus and Škoda Slavia have set a new benchmark in the sedan segment in India. The achievement follows shortly after the Škoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun received a similar 5-star safety rating in October 2022, making them the first India-made SUVs to do so.
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India's strong commitment to produce robust and safe cars has been pivotal in carving out a niche for itself in the Indian automotive industry. The 5-star Global NCAP rating is a hallmark in demonstrating India's manufacturing excellence at a global level. The Volkswagen Virtus and Škoda Slavia are perfect examples of the company’s mission to Engineer in India, for India and the World. The focus of the Group's INDIA 2.0 project is on manufacturing cars in India that meet European quality standards and cater to both – the domestic and overseas markets.
Commenting on this achievement, Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of Škoda Auto Volkswagen India said, “Safety has always been part of our DNA, and that continues to be a focus for us with our current and future product portfolio. The highest safety rating from Global NCAP for the Škoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus further cements the Group's position as the leading European car manufacturer with the safest portfolio of cars in India. This is a testament to our commitment to develop and offer #SaferCarsForIndia. The full 5 star rating by Global NCAP for both Adult and Child Occupant Protection received by all four vehicles produced on our MQB-A0-IN platform reaffirms the Group’s INDIA 2.0 success story. The fine balance of comfort, driving dynamics and safety offered by our made-in-India models are gaining popularity not just here but also opening up export opportunities for the Group.”
Christian Cahn von Seelen, Executive Director, Sales, Marketing and Digital, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India said, “We are proud to have raised the bar in terms of safety standards with each new vehicle we introduce. The Group offers the widest range of cars in India and the common thread that binds all our products is the exceptional packaging - in terms of dynamic drive, features that matter, comfortable ride and most importantly - unparalleled safety. We are confident that the Škoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus will continue to win the admiration of Indian car buyers, especially those who are conscious about the well-being of their friends and family they drive with.”
Global NCAP revised its crash test protocols to evaluate the frontal and side impact protection of all tested models. Vehicles that receive the highest star ratings are also required to undergo assessments for Electronic Stability Control (ESC), pedestrian protection, and side impact pole protection. In their most basic safety specification, with ESC included as standard, both the Škoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus demonstrated a robust structure in the frontal impact and provided adequate to excellent protection for adult occupants, with marginal to excellent protection in the side impact scenarios. Moreover, child occupants received full protection during both front and side impacts, further highlighting the high safety standards maintained by Global NCAP.
The Made in India Škoda Slavia and Kushaq and the Volkswagen Virtus and Taigun come equipped with a range of active and passive safety features. These consist of three-point Seatbelts for all seats including the middle rear, adjustable Headrest for all passengers, Seat Belt Warning, up to six Airbags (Driver, Front Passenger, 2 Curtain, Driver Side, Front Passenger Side), Child Lock, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorage, Overspeed Warning, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Park Distance Control (rear), Rear View Camera, Multi-Collision Brakes, Brake Disc Wiping, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Rain and Light sensors, Hill Hold Control, Electronic Stability Control, and Electronic Differential Lock System (XDS, and XDS+), in addition to the impact absorbing body components and Side Impact Protection Beams in the doors.
With unwavering focus and commitment to developing and producing vehicles that meet the global quality and safety standards, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India has set a benchmark in the Indian automobile industry. The popularity of the INDIA 2.0 models has already been established in India and overseas, and the Group is geared to expand its export footprint further. Currently, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India exports to markets across the globe, including South America, Africa, the Gulf countries and other regions in Asia. Soon it will begin exports of the parts of the Škoda Kushaq and Škoda Slavia, which will be assembled in Vietnam, for the Vietnamese market by the end of 2024.
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