For cars in the M1 category, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has recently mandated six airbags. Cars that can accommodate up to eight passengers fall under this category. However, from October 1, 2022, the order will apply to all manufactured cars.
According to the draft notification, M1 category cars must have two side/side torso airbags, one for each person in the front row, and two curtain airbags. The proposal has already been approved by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Manufacturers will be required to make the necessary safety adjustments, which will likely result in a price rise of roughly Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. This follows the mandatory co-driver passenger airbag, which went into effect on April 1, 2021.
Dual front airbags, ABS, rear parking sensors, front seat belt reminders, and a speed alert system are all standard safety features in each car. Moreover, dual front airbags are standard on the majority of mass-market cars on the market. In fact, even on the top-end variants of many sub-15 lakh cars, two airbags are still available.
