Nissan announced that it would cease production of the zero-star Tsuru sedan on the eve of a car-on-car crash test arranged by Global NCAP.
The test, which was organised by Global NCAP with the help of Latin NCAP and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States, was conceived in a bid to expose the difference in standard safety levels offered in developing and developed countries.
The evaluation pitted a US-spec 2016 Nissan Versa against a 2015 Nissan Tsuru, which is sold in Mexico. Both cars are manufactured in Mexico and have been previously tested by the IIHS and Latin NCAP respectively, with the Versa obtaining a “good” rating (equivalent to five stars) and the Tsuru failing to score a single star.
The test involved a 50% overlap and a combined closing speed of 129 km/h. Global NCAP says the driver in the Tsuru would have had “high probability of suffering life-threatening injuries” since there are no airbags and the main structures all failed.
The day before the test was conducted at the IIHS headquarters in Virginia, Nissan released a statement saying it would put the Tsuru out of production by May 2017.
David Ward, Global NCAP secretary general, welcomed the news.
“This is a long-overdue decision to cease production of a car that is fundamentally unsafe. Three years ago, our partner Latin NCAP crash tested the car and revealed its zero star rating,” said Ward.
“It has taken Nissan too long to recognise that selling sub-standard cars is unacceptable. At last they have responded to the demands of Latin NCAP and Mexican consumers to withdraw the Tsuru from the market,” he added.
Alejandro Furas, Latin NCAP secretary general, called on Nissan to end production of the Tsuru earlier than May.
“I believe that Nissan made this announcement as a reaction to our campaign to stop the production of zero star cars in Mexico and across Latin America. Our car-to-car crash test demonstrates why these zero star cars should be removed from the market immediately,” said Furas.
“In April this year, we published a report showing that the Nissan Tsuru had been involved in more than 4 000 deaths on Mexico’s roads between 2007 and 2012. Even though we welcome Nissan’s announcement, why should at least 15 000 more units of this potentially life-threatening model be sold between now and May?” Furas asked.
Watch the car-on-car crash test video below (the Versa is silver and the Tsuru is red)…
