As vehicle safety standards continue to evolve, it’s critical for automotive manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve. In a recent webinar hosted by Smart Eye, two industry experts—Elsa Magner from Smart Eye’s AIS team and Rikard Fredrikson, Senior Advisor on Vehicle Safety at Trafikverket—provided valuable insights on how manufacturers can navigate new safety regulations, specifically the EU’s General Safety Regulation (GSR) and the Euro NCAP protocols.
The EU General Safety Regulation (GSR) is a mandatory law that requires the inclusion of several advanced safety systems in all new vehicles sold within the EU. Among the key systems are:
On the other hand, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is a voluntary safety rating system that evaluates vehicles based on their crashworthiness and the implementation of advanced safety technologies. The program awards star ratings—ranging from one to five stars—based on a vehicle’s safety performance, providing manufacturers with a valuable marketing tool to showcase their commitment to safety. As Fredrikson explained during the webinar, approximately 70% of vehicles sold in Europe carry a five-star rating, underlining the program’s influence on both manufacturers and consumers.
While both GSR and Euro NCAP focus on enhancing vehicle safety, they serve different roles in the automotive industry. GSR mandates the minimum legal safety standards, ensuring that all vehicles meet a baseline of protection for drivers and passengers. Euro NCAP, however, encourages manufacturers to go beyond the legal requirements by setting higher, more innovative standards for safety performance.
As Elsa Magner highlighted, the GSR focuses on compliance, making it mandatory for all new vehicles to implement safety features like DDAW and ADDW. Euro NCAP, on the other hand, is a performance-based program that operates independently, often moving faster than regulatory bodies like the EU in implementing new requirements. This agility allows Euro NCAP to push manufacturers to innovate, offering higher star ratings as an incentive.
The distinction between the two lies in the focus: GSR sets the legal framework, while Euro NCAP fosters competition among automakers to exceed these requirements and adopt cutting-edge technologies for improved road safety.
For manufacturers, achieving a high Euro NCAP rating is crucial. A five-star rating signals to consumers that a vehicle is equipped with top-tier safety features, giving manufacturers a competitive edge in the marketplace. As Fredrikson emphasized, the program’s voluntary nature means it sets the bar higher than the mandatory GSR, and its flexibility allows it to adapt quickly to new safety challenges and advancements.
Euro NCAP ratings are also influential beyond Europe, as manufacturers seeking to export vehicles globally often align their products with these high standards, knowing that the rating is recognized and respected worldwide.
As the implementation deadlines for GSR approach, manufacturers must ensure they are compliant with the mandatory safety features. However, those looking to lead the market will also need to focus on exceeding these standards by aligning with Euro NCAP’s ever-evolving protocols.
In the next part of this blog series, we will dive deeper into how Smart Eye’s driver monitoring solutions can help manufacturers navigate both the GSR and Euro NCAP requirements, ensuring their vehicles not only comply with legal standards but also achieve the highest possible safety ratings.
Stay tuned for more insights on how advanced in-cabin monitoring systems like Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) are transforming vehicle safety—and how Smart Eye is helping automakers stay ahead in this critical area.
To learn more about Euro NCAP and how their new car assessments is shaping future cars, download our eBook here, or watch the full conversation with Smart Eye and Euro NCAP.