AA clarifies role after Hyundai Grand i10 zero-star safety rating sparks concern
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has stressed that it does not ban or endorse vehicles
Image: Global NCAP
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has stressed that it neither bans nor endorses vehicles, following public concern over low crash-test ratings for popular cars.
This comes after the Hyundai Grand i10, one of South Africa’s best-selling entry-level cars, received a zero-star rating for adult occupant safety in the Global NCAP #SaferCarsForAfrica programme last year.
The rating, which signals a high risk of serious injury for drivers and passengers in a crash, prompted questions from motorists about whether the AA advised against driving such vehicles. The AA clarified that its role is to inform consumers, expose safety shortcomings, and empower buyers to make evidence-based decisions, rather than regulate or prohibit vehicle sales.
"The AA’s role is to inform, not prescribe. As the country’s leading consumer and road-safety advocate, the AA does not have regulatory authority to prohibit the sale of vehicles that do not meet current legal or safety requirements, nor does it endorse specific brands or models," the AA said.
"What the AA does, and will continue to do, is expose safety shortcomings through publishing and commenting on independent test results. We will empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions based on objective evidence rather than marketing claims from manufacturers."
The association added that since the inception of the #SaferCarsForAfrica programme nearly a decade ago, this transparency has driven tangible change in the local market, adding that several manufacturers in South Africa have withdrawn models with unsafe safety ratings or upgraded their safety specifications.
“The AA exists to serve motorists, not manufacturers. Powered by both our members and the South African motoring community at large, we will continue to expose safety irregularities, challenge manufacturer double-safety standards, and shine a light on risks that indeed place lives in danger behind the wheel," AA Chief Executive Officer Bobby Ramagwede said.
"Our mandate is clear: safer vehicles, safer roads, and safer mobility for all South Africans, regardless of what the law currently affords," he added.
Other South African vehicles that were given zero-star Global NCAP safety include the now-discontinued Nissan NP300 (2018) and the GWM Steed (2020).
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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