New Fiat boss: ‘Buyers don’t get Euro NCAP any more’

New Fiat boss Arnaud Belloni has stated that Euro NCAP crash safety ratings are no longer important for manufacturers because customers no longer understand them. The Italian brand is currently developing an entry-level small EV that could meet the European Union’s new E-Car regulations for cut-price machines. To keep costs down, these models could feature fewer safety and semi-autonomous driver assistance systems, potentially resulting in lower scores in the European safety test scheme. When asked if producing an entry-level E-Car means accepting a lower Euro NCAP score, Belloni argued that the testing regime changes its rules every two years, turning cars that were once five-star vehicles into three-star or two-star models, which leaves consumers totally lost. Having worked in the industry for 35 years, Belloni noted that very few manufacturers take the ratings seriously or drive their strategy based on their rank. He added that consumers trust that new cars are inherently safe, pointing out that people understand manufacturers are doing their best to improve on-board safety and reduce CO2 emissions.