APPLICATION OF STAR RATINGS

Version 1.4

Euro NCAP © April 2017
EUROPEAN NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME

Copyright © April 2017 Euro NCAP - This work is the intellectual property of Euro NCAP. Permission isgranted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyrightstatement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission ofEuro NCAP. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from Euro NCAP.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 4
2. VALIDITY OF STAR RATING .............................................................................................. 4
3. ANNUAL AND FACELIFT REVIEW ...................................................................................... 4
4. TERMINATION OF STAR RATING ...................................................................................... 6
5. OTHER VARIANTS......................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
6. CORPORATE TWINS......................................................................................................... 8© 2017 European New Car Assessment Programme

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4

APPLICATION OF STAR RATINGS PROTOCOL
1. Introduction
Euro NCAP has in the past published a result for a vehicle with little or no follow-up regarding
the continued validity of the star rating. The rating has been a ‘snapshot’ of the safety of avehicle at a point in time and any changes that occur thereafter, either to the vehicle’s design
or to the equipment fitted to it, have not been systematically tracked.
With growing recognition and use of the star rating by national authorities, insurance companies
and the general public, it is appropriate that Euro NCAP should provide information on thecontinued validity of the star rating that was originally issued to a vehicle.
Some attempts have been made in the past to broaden the applicability of the star rating tovariants other than the one tested. Technical Bulletin 007 set out the circumstances in which
manufacturers could apply to have a rating applied to other variants or to share a common rating
between ‘corporate twins’ – vehicles which are identical except for branding. This protocol
incorporates and replaces that Technical Bulletin, but the requirements are unchanged.
This protocol defines the technical aspects concerning the continued validity of the star rating.
Manufacturers should also be careful to observe the requirements of Euro NCAP’s “Guidelinesfor Use of the Star Rating”.

2. Validity of Star Rating
Once Euro NCAP has published the base star rating and related information on its website, thevehicle has obtained a valid rating.
By default the base rating (and optional rating if applicable) remains valid for a maximum periodof 6 years following the release of the result. The rating scheme is expected to change sosignificantly during this period that referring to an older result would mislead consumers.
If during this period the specification of the rated vehicle or safety pack alters, for instancebecause standard equipment is deleted or made optional, the rating may become invalid earlier.
To monitor changes to rated vehicles, Euro NCAP will apply Annual and Facelift Reviews (see3).
In some circumstances the star rating may be carried over from the original test model to a
facelifted model, another model variant or twin model. Specific conditions apply as laid out insections 0, Error! Reference source not found. and 6 respectively.

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Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4

Vehicles whose results are published on or after 1st January 2013 will be subject to an annual
review of their ratings.
3.1.1.

A vehicle’s base rating will be subject to an annual review every 12 months from thetime the original rating was released until maximum 6 years thereafter, to establish
whether or not the original rating remains valid. The annual review will comprise (for all
variants and/or corporate twins covered by the rating):
A check that the base safety equipment is unchanged and will continue so for afurther 12 months.

A check that the fitment of safety equipment met original requirements and isexpected to continue to do so for a further 12 months. This check will require
information on total sales across the model range and evidence of the number ofvehicles to which the safety equipment was fitted as standard equipment.

Note: Information from a third party should be provided to corroborate the sales figures(e.g. for an AEB system, information might be provided by the supplier of theradar or camera system used in that application).
3.1.2.

Approximately nine months from the publication of the original rating, or of the previous
annual review or of a facelift review, Euro NCAP will contact the manufacturer with astandard form for completion. The completed form will be reviewed by the Secretariat
and the manufacturer will be contacted if further information is required.

3.1.3.

Not returned or not completed forms may lead to discontinuation of the star rating.

Where a vehicle with a valid overall star rating receives a facelift and the manufacturer wishes
to carry over the rating from the original test, the following rules apply:
3.1.4.

The vehicle manufacturer should contact Euro NCAP approximately four months
before the release of the facelifted vehicle.

3.1.5.

A ‘facelift review’ will be conducted by Euro NCAP to establish whether or not theoriginal star rating can be transferred. This will comprise, in addition to those items
examined in an annual review (see above): A review of the changes that have been made to the vehicle.
 A review of in-house test data, where appropriate.

Application should be made even for ‘facelifts’ which have no influence, or a very minor
influence, on the safety rating but where the appearance of the car has been altered or where
the car is to be marketed as ‘new’. It is Euro NCAP’s intention to keep consumers informed of
the applicability of the rating and any changes which distinguish the updated vehicle from theoriginal should be reported.
It is the responsibility of the vehicle manufacturer to approach Euro NCAP with information
concerning facelift changes. If no information is received from the manufacturer, Euro NCAP
will assume that the facelifted vehicle does not meet the requirements of the original star rating.
The original star rating will no longer be valid and the facelifted vehicle will be eligible forassessment.
The continued validity of an optional rating based on a safety pack will be checked according
to VSSTR protocol v7.0 or later.

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Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4

The outcome of annual reviews and facelift reviews will be published on the web page of thevehicle in a simple tabulated format, indicating the date and nature of the review and whether
or not the original rating remains valid. Annual reviews will be published approximately every
12 months from the date of the original rating.

4. Termination of Star Rating
The base rating (and optional rating if applicable) expires after 6 years or when the original
rating is not considered valid for the vehicle on sale at an Annual Review (e.g. original fitment
rates not met in practice) or a Facelift Review.
In all cases where the rating has been terminated, the website will list the VIN up to which therating is valid. Vehicles after this VIN will not be covered by the rating and the manufacturer’s
advertising should make no further reference to the rating. The ratings and related information
will remain on the website for reference (used car market).
Vehicles produced after this VIN are eligible for testing against the latest Euro NCAP protocols.
The manufacturer will first be offered the opportunity to sponsor the upgrade of the rating, after
which a Euro NCAP member may consider sponsorship.

5. Variants and Partner Models
From 2017, Euro NCAP will provide clearer information to consumers about the variants towhich a model’s rating applies. It is intended to provide, on the website and in the datasheet, alist of all variants in the model range and to indicate whether or not the published rating can beconsidered to apply to that variant. To this end, the equipment matrix sent to vehicle
manufacturers before tests begin now contains a section where all variants, including partnermodels, must be defined.
5.1.
5.1.1.

Main Assessment
Euro NCAP will test a single variant, as identified using the Vehicle Specification,Selection, Testing and Retesting (VSSTR) protocol. As part of its assessment of thevehicle, Euro NCAP will ask the manufacturer for data showing the equivalent safety
performance of the following the opposite hand of drive to the one tested (e.g. RHD if
LHD tested).

5.2.
5.2.1.

Application of Star Rating without Additional Testing
Variants will be considered to share the rating of the tested vehicle if the manufacturer
can provide data/information to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the lead inspector,
that all of the following requirements are met: unladen kerb mass within +/- 150kg of the variant tested
 the same or greater level and fitment of safety equipment, including all Euro
NCAP-relevant primary and secondary technologies.
 structure forward of the B-pillar that is identical to the tested variant or differs in
only in ways unlikely to influence crash performance or pedestrian protection

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Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4© 2017 European New Car Assessment Programme

5.2.2.

5.2.3.
5.3.
5.3.1.
5.3.2.

5.3.3.

engine size and packaging that that is identical to the tested variant or differs in
only in ways unlikely to influence crash performance or pedestrian protection
 same drivetrain (4x4, 4x2)
 the same number of side entry doors
 a difference in ride height which is unlikely to influence crash performance orpedestrian protection
 the same seats (e.g. bench vs bucket) as the tested vehicle
Manufacturers should indicate in the equipment matrix the unladen kerb mass of thevariants and should provide drawings and data to the Lead Inspector at the time of theassessment.
Euro NCAP reserves the right to request additional information to the above.
Application of Star Rating requiring Additional Testing
For variants not meeting the requirements of 5.2, manufacturers must submit relevant
data to Euro NCAP for all variants for which an application is being made.
The information needed, and whether this should come from in-house data or fromofficial testing, will be a matter of discussion between the vehicle manufacturer and theEuro NCAP Secretariat. The data required for a particular variant will depend on thenature and extent of differences from the tested model.
Notwithstanding the above, any variant differing from the tested model in the following
regards will need to be officially tested at an accredited Euro NCAP laboratory.

Difference

Tests Needed

Different
numberor AE-MDB
arrangement of side entry
Side Poledoors
3rd row seats(as standard or optional)

Electric/hybrid

ReasonH point position relative to B
pillar

SBR
Rear
Whiplash(geometry)
TPL installation
HPD assessment (whererelevant)Frontal ODB

Additional checks madeSide Pole

Battery integrity assessed

5.4.
5.4.1.

Variants not covered by the Rating
Any variants which do not meet the requirements of 5.2, and for which no or inadequate
data has been provided under the requirements of 5.3, will be considered not to becovered by the star rating and will be marked as such in the website table

5.5.
5.5.1.

Partner Models
Certain variants may be marketed under a different model name to the originally-testedvehicle. Manufacturers may apply for the star rating to be applied to such ‘partnermodels’ following the procedures set out in 5.2 to 5.4.

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5.5.2.

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4

The Manufacturer must inform Euro NCAP of its intention to apply for a ‘partner’ rating
at the time of assessment of the tested model.

5.6.
Timing5.6.1. Variants
5.6.1.1. Manufacturers may apply for the star rating to be applied to other variants in years later
than the one in which the rating was originally published. In such cases, noconsideration will be given to the requirements in place at the time of the new
application, only those which applied at the time of the original rating. Manufacturers
should provide data in support of any application as described in.
5.6.2. Partner Models
5.6.2.1. A partner model may not share the original rating if it is released in a calendar year
more than 2 years later than the date stamp of the original assessment.
5.6.2.2. Presentation of the results on Euro NCAP’s website will depend on the relative timingof the launch of the partner variants.
 If the partner variant is marketed in Europe in the same calendar year as theoriginal assessment (and therefore eligible for the same date stamp on the rating),
the Manufacturer may choose whether the partner is listed on Euro NCAP’swebsite as a separate model (Model A and Model B appear separately in the listof tested cars) or shares a combined rating with the tested model (presented asModel A/Model in the list). In either case, the comments will make clear that therating is based on the results of the tested model.
 If the partner variant is marketed in a year subsequent to the original model (andis therefore not eligible for the same date stamp on the rating), the assessment on
Euro NCAP’s website will be renamed “Model A/Model B”, where “Model A” is themarketing name of the variant originally tested and “Model B” is the name of the‘partner’. The comments will make clear that the rating is based on Model A butthat sufficient similarities exist, and sufficient data has been provided, for EuroNCAP to apply the rating to Model B.
5.7.
5.7.1.

Comparison of Data
The Manufacturer must explain any differences in test results that do not comply withthe requirements for audit testing set out in section 4.2.7 of the Vehicle Specification,Selection, Testing and Retesting (VSSTR) protocol 7.0.

6. Corporate TwinsA vehicle’s star rating can be applied to models other than the one tested if:
Euro NCAP is satisfied that the ‘alternate’ model is, apart from name andbranding, identical to the vehicle tested in all ways related to safety.

The ‘alternate’ model has the same base safety specification as the vehicle
tested, or better.

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© 2017 European New Car Assessment ProgrammeApplication of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.4

The best selling variant of the ‘alternate’ brand-model has the same body styleand powertrain.

An equipment matrix should be completed for all brand models to which the rating will beapplied.
The matrix should be signed by a representative of that brand.

The base safety specification and best selling variant should be identified foreach brand.



The manufacturer agrees to notify Euro NCAP of any changes tostandard/optional fitment of safety equipment.

Documentation should be submitted to Euro NCAP which highlights differences, if any, inManufacturing plants.

Suppliers of safety equipment.

Powertrain options.

Where very minor differences exist, the brand-model with the lowest base safety specificationor the poorer performance will be assessed.
Alternate make/models should be made available, on request, for strip-down/parts check attime of inspection or before.
Manufacturers must ask for other brand models to be considered as corporate twins at the time
the original assessment is to be done. Retrospective application for other brand models to‘share’ the original rating will not be considered.
Data for publication on the corporate twin will be taken from the original model tested. EuroNCAP will make no distinction between the models.

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