Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on September 13 announced that the government will not enforce the mandatory requirement of six airbags in cars, citing the increasing awareness and preference of consumers for vehicles equipped with six airbags.
“Now people are cautious. Whichever car has six airbags, people will prefer to take that car. It’s up to the manufacturers and people to decide. Everyone is making it, don’t need to make it mandatory. We don’t want to make (six airbags rule) mandatory”, said Nitin Gadkari.
The government leaves the choice to both manufacturers and consumers. The initial plan to mandate six airbags in eight-seater vehicles from October 1, 2022, was postponed to October 1, 2023, considering global supply chain challenges affecting the auto industry.
“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,” Gadkari had earlier said on X (earlier Twitter).
Airbags serve as vital safety systems by cushioning the impact between the vehicle’s occupants and its structure during accidents, thus reducing the risk of severe injuries.
(Inputs from ANI)