Technical Bulletin

Application of Euro NCAP
Star Rating
Version 1.0

TB 007

November 2010

TitleVersionDocument NumberAuthor
Date
Related Documents
StatusApplication Date

Application of Euro NCAP Star Rating
1.0
TB007
Aled Williams
November 2010
Euro NCAP guidelines, CSSTR Protocol 2.3
Information
ImmediateApplication of Euro NCAP Star Rating
Background
For many years, manufacturers have sought to use Euro NCAP’s star rating forvariants other than the one tested. Manufacturers have also asked for ‘corporate twins’– vehicles which are identical apart from name and branding – to be allowed to‘share’ a star rating. Until the introduction of this technical bulletin in 2009, the star
rating could not be used by any variant other than the one tested.
From the guidelines:
It is unacceptable for reference to be made to Euro NCAP or its
rating in promotions for other variants than the assessed vehicle
model.
Manufacturers may only advertise Euro NCAP results in their marketing
material for a particular vehicle if the model variant of thisvehicle tested by Euro NCAP is available to buy in the European
Member State concerned.

Euro NCAP has in the past allowed the same star rating to be used for more than one
vehicle, but has not done so recently. This bulletin is extended to offer a cautious
approach to corporate twins, allowing Euro NCAP to offer broader consumer
information where it can be certain that the assessment is correct for more than one
make and model.

Developments
Some countries have introduced tax incentives based on Euro NCAP’s ratings.
Application of the rating to a single variant has led to a situation where vehicles
which are almost identical are taxed differently, leading to confusion amongst the carbuying public.
In order to make its ratings apply more broadly across the model range, Euro NCAP
applied the Car Specification, Selection, Testing & Retesting protocol from thebeginning of 2008. In contrast to previous years, where safety equipment was chosen
based on standard-fit to the best-selling variant, the protocol bases the selection of thetest variant on fitment across the entire model range.
Moreover, Euro NCAP no longer uses ‘size categories’ as its basis for comparison.
Since the beginning of 2009, the website has allowed comparison between cars withbroadly similar structures (e.g. passenger car, off-roader etc) and with masses within
150kg of one another.

Decisions
It seems untenable for Euro NCAP to maintain that the star rating cannot be applied tovariants within a model range which have identical front-end structure to the one
tested, and very similar kerb weights.
Manufacturers may submit crash test data for evaluation by the Euro NCAP
Secretariat for variants which:

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1) have an unladen kerb mass within +/- 150kg of the variant tested, and2) have identical, or almost identical, structure forward of the B–pillar (includingbumper construction), and
3) do not differ in the number of side entry doors (3/5 door, for example), a havethe same or greater level and fitment of safety equipment, including all Euro
NCAP-relevant primary and secondary technologies.
A car’s Euro NCAP star rating can be applied to models other than the one tested if:
1) Euro NCAP is satisfied that the ‘alternate’ model is, apart from name andbranding, identical to the car tested in all ways related to safety.
2) The ‘alternate’ model has the same base safety specification as the car tested,or better.
3) The best selling variant of the ‘alternate’ brand-model has the same bodystyleand powertrain.

Procedure(A) Application to other variants
1) Manufacturers must submit information to the Euro NCAP ProgrammeManager. Relevant crash test data should be submitted for all variants forwhich an application is being made. Unladen kerb weights should be provided
showing the difference from the tested variant. For different body styles,
drawings should be provided showing that the variants are structurallycomparable. Where equipment differs from the variant tested (e.g. differentside airbags), the differences should be noted. Information should be also besubmitted regarding the fitment of safety equipment to the variants underconsideration. Euro NCAP reserves the right to ask for data demonstrating theperformance of the variant in any area of Euro NCAP’s assessment or to ask
for additional tests to be done at an approved laboratory.
2) Euro NCAP will maintain a database of the variants to which its star rating
applies and will list those variants on its website.
(B) Corporate Twins
1) Equipment Matrix

An equipment matrix should be completed for all brand models to whichrating will be applied.
The matrix should be signed by a representative of that brand.
The base safety specification and best selling variant should be identified
for each brand.
Each manufacturer agrees to notify Euro NCAP of any changes tostandard/optional fitment of safety equipment.

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2) Supporting Technical Documentation
Documentation should be submitted to the Programme Manager whichhighlights differences, if any, in:Manufacturing plants.

Suppliers of safety equipment.

Powertrain options.

3) Testing
Where very minor differences exist, the brand-model with the lowest basesafety specification or the poorer performance will be assessed.
4) Inspection
Alternate make/models should be made available, on request, for stripdown/parts check at time of inspection.

Presentation on Website(A) Variants other than the one tested
On the web page of the tested car, a list of the other variants to which the star rating
applies will be presented.
(B) Corporate Twins
Models of the alternate brands will appear in the drop-down list on Euro NCAP’swebsite. Each ‘alternate’ model will have its own web page, with a picture of thatmodel. However, all of the data and comments, including details of the car tested,
will be copied from the tested vehicle. The comments will make clear that EuroNCAP considers the alternate model to be a twin of the tested vehicle.

Use of Star Rating(A)Variants other than the one tested
If Euro NCAP’s star rating is to be used to advertise a specific variant which was nottested by Euro NCAP, reference must be made to the variant which was tested.
(B) Corporate Twins‘Alternate’ models may use the Euro NCAP star rating in the same way that isallowed for the tested vehicle, i.e. if star rating is to be used to advertise a specificvariant different from the twin model variant, reference must be made to the rated
twin model variant

Date of Application
Euro NCAP will start receiving applications immediately.

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