Australia’s leading automotive safety vehicle accreditor ANCAP, looks set to be around for the long run including the accelerating EV transition, following a further five-years of government support.
The federal government will commit $16.3 million over five years until 2027-28 to assist ANCAP in delivering its independent vehicle safety tests and ratings program.
The government also wants ANCAP to expand to a broader range of vehicles including the testing and rating commercial vans and larger utes.
Assistant Minster for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown confirmed the Government’s commitment during ANCAP’s 30th Anniversary commemorative celebrations.
“The Government’s National Road Safety Strategy places ‘Safe Vehicles’ as a cornerstone to road safety improvement,” Brown says.
“Encouraging the prioritisation and proliferation of vehicle safety features and promoting consumer and fleet uptake of newer, greener and inherently safer vehicles, are clear actions identified in the NRSS and we’re proud to support ANCAP in delivering these objectives.”
“Every life lost on our roads is one too many, and this renewed commitment will have a direct impact on reducing the number of lives lost and serious injuries sustained on Australia’s roads.”
Over the past three years, the value of ANCAP in enhancing the safety of the Australian vehicle fleet is estimated at $442.2 million.
In 2021, ANCAP’s says expediting the fitment of autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and centre airbags can be attributed to the saving of nine lives and a reduction of 236 serious injuries.
“The Australian Government is a key contributor to ANCAP, and this renewed commitment will ensure the acceleration of road safety benefits for all Australians,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
When ANCAP started in 1993 it was only the second crash test organisation in the world, after the US.
The first vehicles tested by ANCAP in 1993 underwent just one crash test – the full width frontal test conducted at 56km/h – and were fitted with minimal safety features.
By contrast, vehicles rated by ANCAP today are subject to seven destructive crash tests covering a range of crash scenarios, as well as a suite of collision avoidance performance tests comprising hundreds of varying daytime and night-time scenarios involving other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Since then it has been motivated by reducing the road toll and ensuring potential car buyers have the most comprehensive independent crash safety data to inform their purchase. ANCAP now lays claim to an 80 percent awareness amongst consumers with 92 per cent market coverage that includes more than 100 models including 100 EVs and hybrid models.
ANCAP has also renewed its partnership with Euro NCAP, which it has held since 1999, that will help with the sharing of of test protocols and results.
ANCAP is supported by 21 member organisations that provide funding to ANCAP.