New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) – A New Paradigm Shift in the ASEAN’s Automotive Ecosystem

Abstract

This paper discusses the inception of the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP)which is expected to create anew paradigm shift in the region’s automotive ecosystem. The discussion encompasses several key topics concerning NCAPin the region: (1) the rationale of having a proactive approach to cater the issues other than casualties for the Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs); (2) an overview of theASEAN NCAPhistory and rating structure; (3)the role of NCAP in the automotive ecosystem; (4) the status quo of users’ perception on vehicle safety from a public survey in four ASEAN countries; and (5) the key challenges inmaterializingtheobjective and future undertakingsof NCAP in the ASEAN region.