For vehicles of category M1 (with up to 8 seats) manufactured after October 1, 2022, the government had already published a draught notification on January 14, 2022, requiring a minimum of 6 airbags.
“Safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority,” said Gadkari. “Considering the global supply chain constraints being faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic scenario, it has been decided to implement the proposal mandating a minimum of 6 Airbags in Passenger Cars (M-1 Category) w.e.f 01st October 2023,” he further added.
The requirement for six airbags in automobiles was challenged by several automakers on the grounds that it would burden consumers with additional costs at a time when they are already feeling the effects of recent price increases brought on by growing input costs. On the other hand, not many automakers began installing six airbags as standard in their new models.
The government issued a draft notification on January 14, 2022, which mandates 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.
“Koshish toh hai (we are trying),” said Nitin Gadkari in a conference a month ago when asked whether the government will make a minimum of six airbags mandatory in vehicles carrying up to eight passengers from October this year.
A vehicle’s airbag is an occupant-restraint mechanism that intervenes between the driver and the dashboard during an accident to shield the driver from severe injury.