 | |
| Formation | 1993 (1993) |
|---|---|
| Services | Automotive safety assessment |
| Membership | 23 organisations (2015) |
TheAustralasian New Car Assessment Program (A.N.C.A.P.) is a car safety performance assessment programme based inAustralia and founded in 1993. ANCAP specialises in thecrash testing ofautomobiles sold in Australia and the publishing of these results for the benefit of consumers. A.N.C.A.P. provides consumers with transparent advice and information on the level of occupant and pedestrian protection provided by different vehicle models in the most common types of crashes, as well as their ability—through technology—to avoid a crash.
Since 1993, A.N.C.A.P. has published crash test results (as of 2015) for over 515 passenger and light commercial vehicles sold in Australia andNew Zealand. Vehicles are awarded an ANCAP safety rating of between one and five stars indicating the level of safety they provide in the event of a crash. The more stars, the better the vehicle performed in A.N.C.A.P. tests. To achieve the maximum five-star A.N.C.A.P. safety rating, a vehicle must achieve the highest standards in all tests and feature advanced safety assist technologies.
In 2018, A.N.C.A.P. adopted theEuro NCAP protocols, with the scoring tweaked to the local conditions.[1]
In 2021 A.N.C.A.P. announced that it ratings would expire after six years, and implemented it on 31 December 2022.[2][3]
ANCAP has been the subject of criticism. Equivalent testing in other markets (such asEuro NCAP andASEAN NCAP) are regarded by manufacturers as equal to ANCAP, attracting comments regarding the efficacy and usefulness of a tax payer funded safety rating system after the collapse of theAutomotive industry in Australia, as each test can cost the equivalent of $750,000 AUD. Additionally questions over the rating system itself have been raised. ANCAP has a focus on driver assistance systems, such as AEB, which are mandatory to achieve five stars. This allows some less-safe cars to attain high-ratings by using cheap electronics.[4]
Controversy also arises over the rating system itself focusing on driver safety, rather than the safety of other road users. The 2022Toyota Hilux attracted 5.71 deaths per 100 crashes, while the 2012Mazda3 only resulted in 3.1 deaths per 100 crashes, almost half as many pedestrian fatalities.[5] Regardless of this, the HiLux receives a higher ANCAP safety rating.[6] Another controversy arises over testing methodology, which has failed to maintain constant throughout testing, resulting in system which cannot be used comparatively over any great length of time.[7]
The average cost of producing one ANCAP rating isA$750,000 (US$563,909.77).
In 2019–2020, 95% of all new vehicles sold were tested.
In 2023, an underwater safety test will be introduced.[8]
The results are grouped into 18 increasingly demanding classes:[9]
