Car crash safety rating systems like the New Car Assessment Programs (NCAP), are pushing car manufacturers to embrace new high-tech systems to ensure a higher level of trust with consumers, according to data.
Inclusion of safety elements, like far-side crash protection are just one of the emerging systems assessed by orgiisations like ANCAP, Australia’s NCAP, that are driving consumer choice and manufacturers plans.
The growing field of automotive safety systems is set to expand in coming years, with a range of factors contributing to heightened safety awareness.
Government regulations and consumer knowledge are contributing to a raising of safety standards in the Asia-Pacific. Various ratings systems have influenced automotive manufactures to consider higher safety parameters.
According to GlobalData, the active and passive safety systems market is forecast to post a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6 per cent in Asia-Pacific (APAC) during 2023-28.
GlobalData’s latest report, Global Sector Overview & Forecast: Active and Passive Safety System- March 2024, reveals that the size of the active and passive safety systems market in APAC was 460.8 million units in 2023.
It is forecast to reach 523.2 million units by 2028.
GlobalData analyst
Automotive analyst at GlobalData, Madhuchhanda Palit, outlines the growing concern of automotive safety.
“In the current automotive market, consumers are increasingly concerned about safety and are searching for ways to compare the safety features offered in different vehicles,” Palit says.
“One such method is to review the New Car Assessment Programs (NCAP) safety rating of a vehicle, which is based on its crashworthiness and the ability of its occupants to survive a crash, considering various parameters.”
“This rating system creates incentives for manufacturers to prioritise safety features in their vehicles, thereby boosting the active and safety systems market’s volume.”
“In 2020, Euro NCAP, Korean NCAP, and China NCAP introduced far-side crash evaluations to their rating schemes, indicating a growing emphasis on comprehensive safety assessments. Moreover, government regulations play a vital role in the sector’s growth. For instance, the EU’s updated General Safety Regulations, implemented in 2022, have mandated the inclusion of several advanced safety features in vehicles, with a specific focus on protecting vulnerable road users,” Palit says.
Technological advancements
Another major driving force behind the safety systems market’s growth is technological advancements. Key players in the sector are focused on improving the effectiveness of both active and passive safety systems.
For instance, ZF has developed a new technology for the implementation of centre or far-side airbags in small and compact cars, making the technology available to a wider range of customer base.
“In addition, as autonomous vehicles become more popular, the rules and regulations regarding their safety might change,” Palit says.
“This means that safety standards could evolve to become more specific to autonomous vehicles. For instance, there might be a requirement for a certain number or type of airbags in these vehicles.”
“The regulations could also consider the redundancy and fail-safe mechanisms of autonomous systems, further driving the volume and technological advancements in the active and passive safety systems market.”