ASEAN NCAP’s 2026–2030 roadmap retains a multi‑domain rating that evaluates both occupant protection and active technologies relevant to Southeast Asia. The system is organised across four pillars — Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP), Safety Assist (SA) and Motorcyclist Safety (MS) — with a combined weighting that prioritises structural crash protection while recognising lifesaving active systems and measures for vulnerable road users.
Overall structure and intent
The 2026–2030 rating focuses on technologies and assessments that address ASEAN‑specific road safety challenges. It continues the integrated rating approach introduced earlier: a combined score across four pillars that drives manufacturer uptake of both passive protection and active prevention systems. The roadmap is designed to be technology‑forward while keeping tests and thresholds relevant to local conditions.
Key pillars and highlights
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)
AOP continues to centre on crash tests (frontal and side) and structural protection. Frontal and side impact evaluations remain core; head protection technologies (HPT) and fitment of curtain airbags are encouraged and rewarded. AOP remains the largest weighted pillar to reflect the primacy of occupant crash protection.
Child Occupant Protection (COP)
COP expands vehicle‑based assessments and the range of regional child restraint system (CRS) scenarios to better reflect Southeast Asian usage. Introduction and encouragement of Child Presence Detection technology are explicit priorities to reduce instances of unattended children in vehicles.
Safety Assist (SA)
Safety Assist emphasises proven active technologies that prevent collisions: Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) (city and inter‑urban), seatbelt reminders (including rear occupant detection) and Advanced SAT (bonus points for effective OEM systems). AEB for pedestrians may be phased in as data becomes sufficient for the ASEAN context; implementation timing can be adjusted based on regional evidence.
Motorcyclist Safety (MS)
MS remains a dedicated pillar reflecting the high exposure of powered two‑wheelers in ASEAN. Technologies rewarded include Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Blind Spot Visualization (BSV), rear‑view / camera technologies, Auto High Beam (AHB), pedestrian protection measures and additional advanced motorcyclist safety technologies (bonus points up to a capped maximum).
Scoring, weightings and bonuses
The rating combines domain scores into a single result. The roadmap continues to allocate the largest share to AOP to reflect crashworthiness, with COP, SA and MS receiving substantial shares to drive technology adoption. The system also includes bonus/fitment items (e.g., advanced MST / Advanced SAT) that reward additional lifesaving technologies without exceeding pillar maxima.
- AOP — primary weight (emphasis on frontal and side protection, HPT rewards).
- COP — CRS installation, vehicle‑based assessment and Child Presence Detection.
- SA — AEB (city / inter‑urban), SBR (including rear seats), Advanced SAT bonus options.
- MS — BSD/BSV, rear view tech, AHB, pedestrian protection and capped bonus points for advanced MST.
Rating thresholds and interpretation
Minimum percentage requirements per pillar are used to determine star ratings. Fitment/bonus items augment pillar scores where applicable but are constrained by pillar maxima.
| Star Rating | AOP (%) | COP (%) | Safety Assist (%) | Motorcyclist Safety (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 80 | 75 | 70 | 50 |
| 4 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 |
| 3 | 60 | 30 | 40 | 30 |
| 2 | 50 | 25 | 30 | 20 |
| 1 | 40 | 15 | 20 | 10 |
Note: slanted/fitment items indicate Fitment Rating elements; some MS/SA items can contribute as capped bonus points to encourage innovation without distorting pillar balance.
What this means for manufacturers and consumers
The 2026–2030 roadmap signals ASEAN NCAP’s continued push to align crashworthiness testing with the rapid advancement of vehicle safety technologies, while tailoring assessments to the region’s mobility patterns. Manufacturers are encouraged to standardise proven passive and active safety fitments for ASEAN models; consumers gain clearer guidance on cars that better protect occupants and vulnerable road users in Southeast Asia.