APPLICATION OF STAR RATINGS

Version 1.2

Euro NCAP © June 2015
EUROPEAN NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME

Copyright © June 2015 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 of Euro
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 .................................................................................. 44.

TERMINATION OF STAR RATING .................................................................................. 65.

OTHER VARIANTS ........................................................................................................ 66.

CORPORATE TWINS ..................................................................................................... 7

© 2015 European New Car Assessment Programme

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.2

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
2.1.

Once Euro NCAP has published the base star rating and related information on its
website, the vehicle has obtained a valid rating.

2.2.

By default the base rating (and optional rating if applicable) remains valid for amaximum period of 6 years following the release of the result. The rating scheme isexpected to change so significantly during this period that referring to an older result
would mislead consumers.

2.3.

If during this period the specification of the rated vehicle or the rating-relevant contentof the safety pack alters, for instance because standard equipment is deleted or madeoptional, the rating may become invalid earlier. To monitor changes to rated vehicles,Euro NCAP will apply Annual and Facelift Reviews (see 3).

2.4.

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 aslaid out in sections 3.2, 5 and 6 respectively.

3. Annual and Facelift Review
3.1.

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

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3.1.1.

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.2

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 is
expected 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 the radaror 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.

3.2.

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:

3.2.1.

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

3.2.2.

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.

3.3.

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 orwhere 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 updatedvehicle from the original should be reported.

3.4.

It is the responsibility of the vehicle manufacturer to approach Euro NCAP withinformation concerning facelift changes. If no information is received from themanufacturer, Euro NCAP will assume that the facelifted vehicle does not meet therequirements of the original star rating. The original star rating will no longer be valid
and the facelifted vehicle will be eligible for assessment.

3.5.

The continued validity of an optional rating based on a safety pack will be checkedaccording to VSSTR protocol v7.0 or later.

3.6.

The outcome of annual reviews and facelift reviews will be published on the web pageof the vehicle 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 publishedapproximately every 12 months from the date of the original rating.

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Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.2

4. Termination of Star Rating
4.1.

The base rating (and optional rating if applicable) expires after 6 years or when theoriginal 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.

4.2.

In all cases where the rating has been terminated, the website will list the VIN up towhich the rating is valid. Vehicles after this VIN will not be covered by the rating andthe manufacturer’s advertising should make no further reference to the rating. Theratings and related information will remain on the website for reference (used carmarket).

4.3.

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 upgradeof the rating, after which a Euro NCAP member may consider sponsorship.

5. Other Variants
5.1.

Main Assessment

5.1.1.

Euro NCAP will test a single variant, as identified using the Vehicle Specification,
Selection, Testing and Retesting (VSSTR) protocol. However, as part of its
assessment of the vehicle, Euro NCAP will ask the manufacturer for data showing theequivalent safety performance of the following:
The opposite hand of drive to the one tested (e.g. RHD if LHD tested)Other number of doors from the tested variant (e.g. 5 door if 3 door tested)Other body styles (e.g. estate/wagon where hatchback has been tested),
including cabriolets.

Other engine/powertrains

If suitable data can be produced, and if the other variants meet the following conditions:

have an unladen kerb mass within +/- 150kg of the variant tested, and,

have the same or greater level and fitment of safety equipment, including all
Euro NCAP-relevant primary and secondary technologies.

then the star rating will also be applicable to these other variants in the model range.
5.1.2.

Manufacturers must submit relevant data to Euro NCAP for all variants for which anapplication is being made. Information should be also be submitted regarding thefitment of safety equipment to the variants under consideration. In particular:

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5.1.3.

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.2

Unladen kerb weights should be provided showing the difference from the testedvariant.

For different body styles, drawings should be provided showing that the variants
are structurally comparable.

Drawings may be used to show that other engines have near-identicaldimensions to the one tested (e.g. engines of the same type but of differentnominal capacity). For engines/powertrains of different dimensions, simulations
and/or in-house test results should be provided.

Where equipment differs from the variant tested (e.g. different side airbags), thedifferences should be noted.
Euro NCAP reserves the right to ask for data demonstrating the performance ofthe variant in any area of Euro NCAP’s assessment or to ask for additional tests to
be done at an approved laboratory.

5.2.

Manufacturers may also 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 newapplication, only those which applied at the time of the original rating. Manufacturers
should provide data in support of any application as described in 5.1.2.

5.3.

Euro NCAP will maintain a database of the variants to which its star rating applies andwill list those variants on its website alongside Annual Review information.

6. Corporate Twins
6.1.

6.2.

A 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. If the tested model has an optional star rating, the alternate
model is allowed to have fewer Euro NCAP-relevant technologies in its safety
pack, if the other technologies are standard equipment.

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
be applied.
The matrix should be signed by a representative of that brand.

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

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

6.3.

Application of Star Ratings
Protocol • Version 1.2

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.

6.4.

Where very minor differences exist, the brand-model with the lowest base safety
specification or the poorer performance will be assessed.

6.5.

Alternate make/models should be made available, on request, for strip-down/partscheck at time of inspection or before.

6.6.

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 otherbrand models to ‘share’ the original rating will not be considered.

6.7.

Data for publication on the corporate twin will be taken from the original model tested.
Euro NCAP will make no distinction between the models.

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