ANCAP Toughens Stance

ANCAP SAFETY (Australasia’s independent vehicle safety assessor) recently announced a new policy that will see a rating validity period applied to vehicles rated by ANCAP that pre-date their alignment with Euro NCAP, which took effect from January 2018.

This is an important consideration for fleets, who should consider the implications on their Fleet Policy.

Background

Up until the end of 2017, ANCAP applied a different set of assessment criteria/protocols to that of its European cousins that were somewhat less stringent. This had the potential to cause inconsistencies in ratings for vehicles tested in both Europe and Australia.

Additionally, Safety Ratings for vehicles assessed by ANCAP prior to 2018 were not subject to a period of rating validity. The only mechanism for those ratings to expire was the introduction of a new model.

ANCAP has argued (rightly in my view) that the presence of older ratings has the potential to create confusion among consumers, and inappropriate comparisons between vehicles designed and rated against vastly different protocols.

Notably, ANCAP increases the breadth and stringency of its ratings criteria/protocols approximately every two years.  

ANCAP Crash Test - Mitsubishi Triton 2015

Vehicle Safety

Since January 2018, all vehicles rated by ANCAP are evaluated against four key areas of assessment:

  1. Adult Occupant Protection
  2. Child Occupant Protection
  3. Vulnerable Road User Protection
  4. Safety Assist

A range of tests and assessments are conducted within each key area, with each vehicle required to meet minimum score thresholds for each star rating level.  

New Policy  

To bring existing ANCAP Safety Ratings (which pre-date the introduction of the six year period of validity) in line with current protocols and policies, the ANCAP Application of Star Ratings Protocol has been amended.

From December 2022, vehicles which hold a current ANCAP Safety Rating with a datestamp of 2017 or earlier will begin to expire (see below table). In summary:

  • Ratings for vehicles with a rating datestamp of 2015 or earlier will expire as at 31 December 2022
  • Ratings for vehicles with a rating datestamp of 2016 will expire as at 31 December 2023
  • Ratings for vehicles with a rating datestamp of 2017 will expire as at 31 December 2024
  • Ratings for vehicles built prior to the rating expiry will remain valid and accessible on the ANCAP website. However, any vehicle which is built after the rating expiry date will be considered ‘unrated’. 
 ANCAP RATING ‘DATESTAMP’ RATING EXPIRY DATE
2015 or earlier 31 December 2022
2016 31 December 2023
2017 31 December 2024

Industry Consultation

ANCAP has consulted with industry in relation to the introduction of this policy, and priority consultation was had with brands which will likely be specifically affected (i.e. those with volume-selling models which hold a datestamp of 2017 or earlier).

Ultimately, this policy decision is aimed at encouraging Manufacturers to build and bring the safest vehicles to our shores. 

Policy Benefits

ANCAP see the introduction of this policy providing numerous benefits, such as:

  • Introducing consistency in rating validity (6 years) across all ANCAP safety ratings
  • Aligning the validity of ANCAP safety ratings with the typical average model lifecycle of Passenger Vehicles and SUVs
  • Allowing consumers to more accurately compare the relative safety of vehicle models
  • Encouraging Manufacturers that hold models with longer product lifecycles to upgrade the safety specifications of those existing models
  • Establishing clear guidance to assist Manufacturers in product planning and model introduction timing
  • Encouraging fleet buyers to select models with a more recent datestamp and hence improved safety specifications

Notably, we understand that some models that were initially expected to be affected by the introduction of this policy have already been withdrawn from the market or will have new models introduced either before, or shortly after the expiring of their existing rating.

If you’d like to discuss your Fleet Safety, or get help with any aspect of managing your fleet - contact us at Fleet Advisory.