C-NCAP Certification for the Chinese Automotive Industry

Executive summary about Automotive by Face Zhang

he constant media squabble over C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program) doesn't annoy Mr Zhao Hang at all. As the Chief Director of China Automotive Technology Research Centre (CATARC), Zhao has paid a great deal of efforts to develop this program, a vehicle crash test known as "Chinese new car safety evaluation standard". Big Brother of the automotive industry

Apart from assisting in setting automotive industry policies, CATARC also conducts research in a few core automotive technologies, such as partnering with Tianjin FAW Xiali Motor, Hafei Automobile Group and Yunnan Hongta Group to develop alternative energy cars.

"For every aspect of China's automotive industry, we all have a corresponding service institution. This includes pre-production tasks such as project establishment, factory site selection and factory construction planning, and production related processes such as auto products, standards, information, testing, certification, quality system establishment and staff training. We also get involved in market establishment, second-hand car market, automotive finance, car rental and vehicle scrap recycling," said Zhao.

The C-NCAP

Although CATARC has such a wide-ranging function, most people currently are interested in its C-NCAP crash test. NCAP, or New Car Assessment Program, originated from the US in 1

"The automotive industry in China is big, but few people really understand cars. The chief purpose of conducting C-NCAP tests is to prompt vehicle producers to upgrade their technologies and improve car safety.

"C-NCAP is a new car assessment program, not just a new car SAFETY assessment program.

Industry recognition

C-NCAP can become a guideline for Chinese automotive manufacturers, said Zhao. A cooperative deal with PICC (People's Insurance Company of China), China's largest property insurer, was another successful initiative by CATARC. Last year, a vehicle safety crash test laboratory sponsored by PICC was opened, and PICC had also provided US$2 million to C-NCAP as crash test funds. What kind of vehicle certification system does China need?

While in developed countries, government certifications are built around the three major criteria, namely safety, environmental friendliness and energy saving."

CATARC plans and drafts national vehicle standards in China. We need to strictly monitor basic aspects, such as vehicle safety, environmental friendliness and energy saving, but leave other tasks to the market and consumers.