Latin NCAP Established As Permanent Force For Safer Cars In Region

The New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Latin NCAP) carried out its Inaugural Board Meeting on May 19th in Montevideo, Uruguay. Representatives from international organizations gathered to formally establish the program as an association under a legal entity framework.

David Ward, Global NCAP’s Secretary General said: “It is a great achievement for Latin NCAP to become a permanent organisation promoting safer cars across the region. This innovative crash test programme has already resulted in the arrival of the first ‘five star’ cars in Latin America. Consumers across the region want to know which cars are safer and car makers can now meet that demand. This will help to save thousands of lives as safer cars become more widely available. The exceptional work of two Uruguayans has made this possible. Nani Rodriguez of the Gonzalo Rodriguez Foundation has been the inspirational host of the Latin NCAP pilot project. Alejandro Furas has applied his exceptional engineering skills to successfully manage Latin NCAP’s crash test work. Uruguay, the new home of Latin NCAP, can be proud of their leadership in promoting safer cars throughout Latin America.”

The founding partners of the new association are: Automobile Club of Chile, Automobile Club of Colombia, Automobile Club of Bolivia, Consumidores Argentinos, Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez, International Consumers Research & Testing, ODECU and PROTESTE. Supporting the process were also: the FIA Region IV, FIA Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, FICVI and Fundación MAPFRE.

Nani Rodríguez, Fundación Gonzalo Rodríguez President and Latin NCAP President of the Board of Directors said: “Under Children’s Road Safety Plan (EDU-CAR) carried out in Uruguay, one of the most important factors found that make the transport of children to be safe has to do with the safety levels offered by cars. The results of the research conducted for both new and used cars available in our streets and roads were disturbing and diagnosed as a result a precarious safety situation which affects not only our country, but is also transferable to the rest of the region. In this sense, it is not enough to have the knowledge about CRS and the habit of use; is it also needed vehicles to be equipped with seat belts and/or proper anchors as well as structures designed to withstand impacts. Today – almost four years after the launch of the programme in the region – the impact that Latin NCAP generated with manufacturers, governments and consumers make me feel it was the correct decision to be an active part of the programme from the beginning and fills me with pride and motivation that today that it has become a separate legal entity that is here to stay. Latin NCAP has led a turning point towards the democratization of vehicle safety in Latin America.”

Alejandro Furas, Global NCAP’s Technical Director and Latin NCAP appointed CEO said: “We are proud to take this important step that ensures the continuity of the programme. It has been challenging and yet very rewarding to work during these 4 years with consumers, media, governments and other organizations as well as with manufacturers looking for a common goal: to save lives. From Latin NCAP and with the support of all the organizations that are part of the new association, we will continue working, providing independent information to consumers across the region.”

Latin NCAP is now preparing to release its fifth phase of crash test results that will be soon.