Five India-made cars, including Maruti Alto 800 and Tata Nano, failed crash test conducted by Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme).

Global NCAP is a UK-based independent charity that focuses on consumer-orientated vehicle safety initiatives. It conducted crash tests at speeds of 64 kmph. Shockingly, the five India-made cars received a zero for adult protection in a frontal impact of crashes.

Apart from the Maruti Alto 800 and Tata Nano, the Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo also failed the crash tests.

Max Mosley, chairman of Global NCAP, said poor structural integrity along with the absence of airbags was putting the lives of the users of the cars at risk. In the report, he even added, "The extent of the structural weaknesses in these models is such that fitting airbags would not be effective in reducing the risk of serious injury."

However, Ford India and Tata Motors argued that the cars meet applicable industry safety standards. Tim Leverton, head of Tata Motors' Advanced & Product Engineering, Engineering Research Centre, claimed that all of he company's vehicles, including the Tata Nano, meet all Indian safety guidelines.

The combined sales of the aforementioned five cars accounted for nearly 20 per cent (18,07,011) of all new cars sold in India during 2013.