Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) on Wednesday said it has received 5-star rating for the all-new Dzire in the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP), becoming India’s first sedan to receive this recognition.

The other model tested under Bharat NCAP, the new Baleno, scored a 4-star rating, the company said, adding that Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, presented the certificates to the company.

MSIL also announced that all passenger vehicles sold by the company will be equipped with six airbags by the year-end. Currently, the company offers a portfolio of 10 models, with six airbags as a standard feature across variants, including the Alto K10, Celerio, WagonR, Eeco, Swift, Dzire, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny and Invicto.

“It gives me immense pride to see Made-in-India high volume mainstream cars achieve exemplary safety ratings under the Bharat NCAP. This programme incorporates rigorous and comprehensive testing and evaluation standards that are comparable with global safety protocols. It is aimed at raising safety awareness among customers in the country,” Gadkari said.

MSIL has fast-paced the adoption of six airbags as standard across all variants of models covering all the segments, he noted.

“I am sure this will encourage other manufacturers to make six airbags a standard feature across all variants of their models. While the car industry strengthens its vehicle safety protocols, I strongly urge all two- and four-wheeler users, and pedestrians alike, to follow traffic rules, fasten seat belts and make road safety a shared responsibility,” Gadkari added.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, MSIL, said Bharat NCAP brings to India the stringent vehicle testing protocols that will help customers take informed decisions.

“Within this year, all Maruti Suzuki models across all variants will be equipped with six airbags as standard. In addition, well ahead of regulatory requirement, all our 18 models are equipped with an Electronic Stability Programme+ (ESP), by far the widest portfolio in the industry,” Takeuchi said.

Published on June 11, 2025