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India-Made Chevrolet Beat Earns Zero Stars In Latin NCAP Testing: Video

Despite General Motors’ announcement to equip every single future model in global markets with air bags, that hasn’t stopped backlash from the Latin NCAP, according to AutoCar Pro.

Most recently, the Latin NCAP performed its usual rounds of testing on the India-made Chevrolet Beat or Chevrolet Spark GT in Mexico. It came as no surprise the Beat earned zero stars in the crash tests, utterly failing in every area.

“Once again, we are very disillusioned by General Motors. As a global brand, they offer good safety levels for other regions. They should show that all consumers, regardless of geography, are valued the same when it comes to safety,” Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, president, Latin NCAP, said in a statement.

The Beat arrives with absolutely no air bags to protect occupants in the event of a crash, leading to traumatizing results in the crash dummies.

“The protection offered to the driver’s head and chest was poor while neck protection was weak due to the high chest deflection caused by its contact with the steering wheel, as well as the head impact with the steering wheel,” NCAP stated.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. That’s bad.
    The best way for stopping GM from selling these cars is to stop buying them. I drive a car with no airbags, but only because I choose to.

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  2. This is something Mary Barra needs to fix as while airbags are not mandatory in these countries, GM should be willing to step up especially as it hurts the corporate image of General Motors.

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  3. Geezus! How in the heck does GM grow it’s busiess when people who can afford a car won’t buy this one because, IMO, it’s a likely”deathtrap”?

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  4. In Mexico, the Indian Beat is named the Spark Classic, not the Spark GT. That’s in other Latin American countries. The reason for that is because Mexico has the new Spark and this one. The other Latin American countries offer the Beat/Spark GT and the really old Spark (which was named in Mexico the Matiz).

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  5. The new beat is coming next year, with all these right safety gear, on the car’s.

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  6. The cars structural integrity remained intact and crush zones did their job by the looks of things. If it had airbags it would have fared a whole lot better. Those poor kids in back arm and legs flailing about, geez.

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  7. This is typical of ALL manufacturers’ vehicles in the latin american and south american region – especially Brazil. The vehicle prices are so insanely high (due to extreme import tariffs) that if someone can afford a vehicle, it’s only going to be one without airbags or safety features. It’s sad, but a lot of it has to do with the country’s economy and the income of its populations rather than the manufacturer. If they start adding in safety features, the price will go up, and then you’ve made new vehicles unavailable to most of the population.

    Not saying it’s right, but that’s how it is.

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  8. Well not defending or condemning GM here one has to consider the markets.

    Cars like this are sold in third world markets are sold with one intent and only one intent and that is to keep the price down as low as possible.

    First off in many of these markets most people have little to no money so the reality of even owning a car like this is limited to a small group. Lets face it many of these people are so poor that they ride on the tops of trains. buses and in the back of large trucks to get around.

    second Many cars they compete with in these countries are very small and also cheaper. We do not see this car nor many of the other MFG’s cars in this country as they would never meet our standards.

    Third many of these countries are just now doing testing like this that will spur all MFGs to make safer cars. We went though the same thing here.

    I know many here often think the world is much more like us with the same standards and similar ways of life. I used to think that till I went to some of these countries and saw how it is else where. You see it in National Geo and on TV but it never really hits you till you see people living in buildings with no doors and windows and way too often no floors.

    At this point many of these countries are emerging and as their incomes come up they will get the things we take for granted including more expensive cars with more safety.

    The simple fact is until they are required to put air bags in these vehicles many companies will not because the added cost is the difference between a car selling and not selling in many of these countries. Many countries will be slow to make laws to put them in as people will be mad they have to pay more for a vehicle they can hardly afford now.

    It is a tough situation all the way around.

    We here think cars are too damn expensive. Well try to buy one in a country where you only make a small percentage of what you make here and the cars cost just as much.

    Many automakers have looked to making third world cars and most are very small and basic. Even when keeping cost down they are a tough sell. The Beetle was one that did it well as it was tough and durable but it also has little to no safety about it. No bags. earlier ones had no belts. Today a Beetle would be hard pressed to meet crash standards.

    The bottom line is we are not one world and may not be for a long time.

    My eyes were really opened when I went overseas. It is then you realize how lucky we are here in a land were you will see homeless people with cell phones.

    Once the governments force the bags and people learn more about them and how they may keep them alive these country’s will see more change. Till then sub standard cars for what we see will be more the norm in low price segments.

    Reply

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