Global NCAP calls on Nissan to discontinue Datsun Go

Global car safety verifying agency NCAP Thursday said that it has written to Nissan chairman and chief executive Carlos Ghosn, calling for an urgent withdrawal of the Datsun Go passenger car from India and related markets.

Recently, both Datsun Go and Suzuki Maruti Swift failed the agency's crash tests.

Global NCAP chairman Max Mosley said: "It is extremely disappointing that Nissan has authorised the launch of a brand new model that is so clearly sub-standard. As presently engineered, the Datsun Go will certainly fail to pass the United Nation's frontal impact regulation."

"In these circumstances I would urge Nissan to withdraw the Datsun Go from sale in India pending an urgent redesign of the car's body-shell."

After its crash test the Datsun Go scored zero stars for adult occupant protection and just two stars for child occupant protection. The Datsun Go's vehicle structure collapsed in the crash and was rated as unstable.

NCAP said that the car's lack of airbags meant that the driver's head makes direct contact with the steering wheel and dashboard - the dummy readings indicate a high probability of life-threatening injuries.

In January 2014, Global NCAP published crash test results for five of India's best-known cars: the Suzuki Maruti Alto 800, the Hyundai i10, the Ford Figo, the Volkswagen Polo, and the Tata Nano.

All the cars received zero-star adult protection ratings.

However, Volkswagen has since decided to offer the Polo for sale in India with two airbags as standard. This model subsequently received a four-star safety rating.