Euro NCAP — the European New Car Assessment Programme — is an independent organisation dedicated to improving the safety of modern vehicles. Our testing, which is done across all areas of car safety and across all vehicle segments, enables consumers to make informed choices and select the safest vehicle for their needs.
Since 1996, Euro NCAP has played a pivotal role in making important safety technologies standard across mainstream vehicles. The organisation was established in response to growing public concern that existing regulatory safety standards were not keeping pace with technological developments or the real-world risks faced by drivers, passengers, and other road users.
In 2024 Euro NCAP launched its Safer Truck Programme - where the safety performance of heavy good vehicles now comes under scrutiny.
Today, the Euro NCAP safety rating is recognised worldwide as a trusted benchmark that informs consumer choice, drives industry innovation, and ultimately helps to save lives.
Goods transport is an essential fact of all modern societies and increases in the standard of living tend to increase freight demand. Heavy vehicles are not involved in collisions more frequently than other vehicle types, but when they are involved, a fatality is more likely due to their size. Consequently, to meet Vision Zero targets and upgrade the safety solutions that are offered on trucks as standard, there need to be strong incentives for fleet buyer and shippers to prioritise safety over the costs of the vehicle, maintenance, fuel and insurance. A competitive freight industry with narrow margins will almost certainly prioritise operational needs. Euro NCAP’s Safer Truck test programme creates a market for safety for all types of vehicles – in the Long haul, Distribution, Construction and Utility sectors – going beyond regulation and incentivising manufacturers and fleet buyers to prioritise safety. Euro NCAP hopes too that European cities will communicate and drive forward the safety rating still further.
Euro NCAP’s independence is fundamental to its credibility. It is not a government agency, and not part of the automotive industry. The programme is supported by a consortium of European governments, motoring clubs, consumer organisations and insurance bodies, all united by a commitment to car and road safety.
Euro NCAP works closely with a network of testing facilities,11 in Europe, and others beyond in China and Australia, to successfully deliver robust and independent consumer testing of passenger cars. Stringent testing that is constantly evolving ensures that Euro NCAP's assessment remains up-to-date with the latest safety innovations and technologies.
