The latest tests, held under the new and tougher protocol introduced at the end of last year, have revealed some life threatening and inadequate safety measures taken by car manufacturers. And Chevrolet is one among these manufacturers. In its report Latin NCAP has revealed that the structure of the Chevrolet Sail was rated as unstable and it will not be able to withstand further loadings. It was the driver's side that faced the highest amount of risk with life threatening injuries to head and chest. In fact the car also lacks three-point seat belts in all positions.
The result from the front collision showed such severe injuries to the driver and front passenger that it was enough for Latin NCAP to give the car Zero Star rating without doing a side impact test. That said, Chevrolet Sail does come with ISOFIX anchorages for child restraint systems that were used for the test that in combination with the child seats, offered a reasonable protection to the child occupants and eligible for two star rating. But the Sail did lose points for not having proper installation instructions for positioning the child seats made the Sail to lose points as well.
Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, Latin NCAP President said, "I'm shocked that we keep finding zero star Chevrolets in the Latin American market. Whilst other manufactures have shown improvement over the course of the last five years, GM models continue to disappoint. Latin NCAP is committed to bring safer cars to Latin America and we will keep testing, informing consumers, and highlighting GM's as well as other car manufacturer's shortfalls until change is effected".
General Motors said in a statement, "GM shares the goal of improving road safety worldwide, including the adoption of basic auto safety standards in global markets and the phase-out of zero-star cars." The carmaker further added that the new cars are set to be introduced in the 2019 model year. One must note, we are yet to receive word from the Indian arm of the company if the aforementioned statement will also include its cars here.
