Govt Defers Implementation Of Six Airbags In Passenger Cars By One Year, Cites 'Supply Chain Constraints'

The government has deferred the implementation of the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in passenger cars by one year.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari took to Twitter on Thursday (29 September) to announce that the proposal has been deferred till 1 October 2023.

The government had earlier planned to make six airbags mandatory in eight-seater vehicles for enhanced safety of occupants from 1 October 2022.

"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 said in a tweet.

The minister further asserted that the safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority.

The delay is said to be on account of lack of airbag manufacturing capacity in India to handle the transition, reports CarToq.

If the six airbag rule were to be implemented, India would need about 18 million airbags that will go into cars sold in the country.

Currently, capacity exists for only 6 million airbags, and there’s a shortfall of 12 million airbags.