Latin NCAP has been set up by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), FIA Foundation, ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing) and GRMF (the Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation) with support of the IDB (the Inter-American Development Bank).

The new association has been launched simultaneously in Montevideo, Uruguay and São Paolo, Brazil, and has already released test results of nine cars from the popular small vehicle class using the same frontal impact test that is included in Euro NCAP’s test programme.

The programme is expected to contribute to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which could save five million lives on the world’s roads if successfully implemented.

Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said: 'We congratulate the partners in Latin NCAP for taking this important step for the Latin American and Caribbean region. Latin NCAP will not only contribute to raising the standards of car safety and to increasing the levels of protection given to drivers, adult passengers and children, but also help increase much needed public awareness about the importance of safer road transport.’

Details of the results for the nine cars recently assessed by Latin NCAP can be found at: www.latinncap.com