Fiat Punto fails safety test: Raises Serious Safety Concerns

In the two-decade-long history of Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), the Italian car manufacturer Fiat's Punto hatchback has become the first ever car to receive 'Zero star rating' during the crash testing. The unexpected 0% ‘Safety Assist’ result given to Punto was attributed to its low crash performance and absence of some of the key safety features such as AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and LSS (Lane Support Systems).

Continuing With Old Car Models

The third generation of the Fiat Punto was rolled-out in the year 2005, which made it a 12-year-old model during the testing. The car wasn't replaced in the Indian and UK markets following the economic meltdown in the year 2008. 

Speaking on the Punto's rating, NCAP's secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said, “The fact that older cars cannot compete, illustrates the pace at which the vehicle industry is innovating safety and the willingness and ability of competitive manufacturers to meet the highest standards. Those who do not keep their cars up to the latest standards get left behind – as these results clearly show.”

Not Using Life-Saving Safety Tech as Standard

While Punto's ratings were disappointing, there was a big leap taken forward in terms of car safety as per the year on year figures of five-star ratings. While only 56% cars tested by Euro NCAP achieved a five-star rating in the year 2016, the figure increased to unprecedented 72 per cent this year. However, the December test results have shown some warning signs that some car makers are still opting not to fit potentially life-saving safety tech as a standard feature in their cars.

Responding to the zero-star rating issued to Punto, a Fiat spokesman said, “Safety is of utmost importance to the FCA group. When Punto was launched 12 years ago, it was the first 5-star Euro NCAP car, in its class. The importance of safety to the FCA group is demonstrated by the number of new models achieving 5 stars.”

Application of Crash Safety Norms In India

Taking into consideration the application of crash safety norms by the Indian government next year, it remains to be seen how Punto will perform in the Indian market. However, the market rumor also has it that the company may replace the model from the country in the coming months.

The Fiat Punto has been on sale since 2009 in India and a face-lifted version was launched in the year 2014 called Punto Evo. Despite receiving a good opening during its launch, the car has failed to make a mark in terms of sales figures.