How AA NCAP chooses entry-level cars for crash tests

THE Automobile Association of South Africa says its involvement in NCAP crash testing is guided by a single principle, which is making safety information accessible to the most vulnerable buyers.

- WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

“The ethos is democratising safety,” says Bobby Ramagwede, the CEO of the AA. “That means the lens through which I’m looking at it is the most vulnerable buyer. It’s usually that buyer who has the biggest budgetary constraint.”

According to Ramagwede, the focus is not random, and it is not selective in a subjective sense. The starting point is always the entry-level segment. “Key feature number one is that it must be an entry-level vehicle, because that’s where standard features matter most. Key feature number two is that it needs to be a popular entry-level vehicle, because I’m trying to have a lot of impact at the same time.”

Ramagwede says it means prioritising high-volume models that are widely accessible to first-time buyers and cost-conscious consumers.

“If I could, I'd take every entry-level vehicle and pass it through the lens, but unfortunately, I can’t do it. So I have to be selective. I choose popular, entry-level vehicles. It could be Chinese, it could be Korean, or any other manufacturer.”

How cars are selected and tested