China to start vehicle crash testing
(Agencies)
Updated: 2006-08-27 13:50
BEIJING — China will begin its first independent vehicle crash tests next
week as the government adopts a new system described as "consistent with the
international New Car Assessment Program [NCAP]."
News of the crash-test program was reported by Xinhuanet, which said the
first vehicle to be tested will be the Nissan X-Trail, assembled locally by
Dongfeng Automobile.
Crash tests previously were conducted by the manufacturers, who were under no
legal obligation to publish the results. Under the new system, the China
Automotive Technology and Research Center in Beijing will conduct official
tests.
CATARC, which participates in setting national automotive standards, said it
has tested 1,200 vehicles for various manufacturers since 1999. The center said
it plans to test 10-15 vehicles each year.
What this means to you: Chinese consumers soon will be able to read the same
sort of independent crash-test results as their counterparts in Europe, Japan
and North America.
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