After considering the comments received from the stakeholders, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, vide draft GSR 751(E) dated September 30, 2022, has proposed to revise the implementation date for six airbags to October 1, 2023.
Earlier, the Ministry, vide draft GSR 16(E) dated January 14, 2022, had proposed that vehicles of category M1 manufactured after October 1, 2022, shall be fitted with two side/side torso airbags, one each for the persons occupying front row outboard seating positions and two side curtain/tube airbags, one each for the persons occupying outboard seating positions. The M1 category refers to vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.
In a press statement by the Ministry, it is mentioned that the fixed cost of an airbag is a function of the volume of the vehicle model produced and shall be determined by market forces.
However, the approximate variable cost for four airbags (two side airbags and two curtain airbags) is estimated to be around INR 6,000.
As per information available with the Society of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers (SIAM), out of the total monthly sale volume of 327,730 passenger cars, only 17% of cars totalling 55,264, are fitted with six airbags.
According to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the current airbag manufacturing capacity in the country is 22.7 million units and is estimated to increase to 37.2 million units next year.
The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, notified by the Government for Automobile and Automobile components, inter alia provides incentives for airbag applications, viz. inflator for the airbag, airbag electronic control unit and sensors for airbag, the Ministry added.
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