Transpolis, Official Euro NCAP Testing Center
Transpolis stands out as a key player in the world of road safety. With its three major activities, the company has built an international reputation by combining innovation and excellence.
Firstly, crash testing, Transpolis’ historic activity, has been evolving for over 30 years. This laboratory ensures the safety of road safety devices that are omnipresent in our lives.
Secondly, Transpolis is a recognised vehicle testing center. In this role, the company operates as a state-accredited technical service, strengthening its expertise on the international stage.
Finally, Transpolis is a world leader in the distribution of abdominal pressure sensors (APTS).
Today, by becoming an official Euro NCAP testing center, Transpolis takes another step forward in its mission to promote road safety.
Euro NCAP, the Organization Challenging Vehicle Safety
Euro NCAP, short for “European New Car Assessment Programme,” is an independent organization founded in 1997 to promote road safety. Focused on a consumer-oriented approach, it provides buyers with reliable and comparable information on the level of protection offered by new vehicles. Euro NCAP evaluations help guide consumers toward informed choices.
Since its inception, the organisation has played a crucial role in the evolution of vehicle safety standards. The first crash test series in 1997 exposed significant occupant protection shortcomings, pushing manufacturers to improve their models to achieve better ratings.
The focus initially was on passive safety, which protects vehicle occupants in a collision. This includes frontal and side crash tests, as well as pedestrian impact assessments.
Euro NCAP goes beyond evaluating current safety. The organisation has also been a catalyst for adopting emerging technologies, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and solutions for autonomous vehicles.
Vehicle performance is rated on a scale from one to five stars, a system that continuously drives the automotive industry to innovate.
What Is Active Safety?
While passive safety aims to reduce impact once an accident has occurred, active safety refers to all vehicle technologies designed to prevent and avoid accidents. For example, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) are active safety features that intervene when the driver has not had time to react.
A Symbolic Evaluation
Euro NCAP’s star rating system provides consumers with a clear indication of tested vehicles’ safety levels. The stars reflect the vehicle’s performance during tests and the presence and effectiveness of safety features offered by manufacturers in each market.
- 5 stars: Excellent overall crash protection, with robust accident-avoidance technology.
- 4 stars: Good overall crash protection and prevention but does not meet the highest standards in all key areas.
- 3 stars: Meets basic safety standards with an average performance level.
- 2 stars: Nominal crash protection, but lower-than-average performance in one or more key areas.
- 1 star: Marginal crash protection and minimal collision-avoidance technology, just above legal requirements.
- 0 stars: Meets legal approval standards but lacks essential modern safety technologies.
How Are Vehicles Selected?
Euro NCAP selects vehicles to test based on popularity and relevance to European consumers. The goal aims to provide safety information on best-selling cars, covering a variety of market segments and vehicle categories.
To ensure objective testing, Euro NCAP anonymously acquires up to four vehicles per model by purchasing them directly from dealerships, just like an ordinary consumer. Occasionally, manufacturers voluntarily submit their models for evaluation. This approach ensures that tested vehicles accurately reflect those available on the market, providing consumers with reliable safety information.
The Rise of Active Safety
Euro NCAP has played a key role in transforming automotive safety criteria by introducing the evaluation of active safety systems (ADAS). In 2011, the first tests included technologies such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a major advancement in preventing vehicle loss of control.
In 2013, Euro NCAP further developed its evaluations by introducing Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) tests, supporting Vision Zero—a bold initiative aiming to eliminate serious and fatal road accidents.
Evaluation protocols have since expanded to include complex scenarios for AEB, simulating real-world crash situations such as pedestrian crossings, cyclist collisions, and sharp turns. This evolution marks a major shift in promoting active safety and encourages manufacturers to adopt life-saving technologies, making driving safer for all road users.
From Passenger Cars to Trucks
Road safety advancements have not been limited to passenger cars. Euro NCAP has gradually expanded its evaluation criteria to cover a broader range of vehicles, including commercial vehicles and heavy trucks.
Passenger Cars
Early crash tests set crucial safety standards for passenger vehicles.
Vans and Light Commercial Vehicles
In December 2020, Euro NCAP extended its tests to include vans and light commercial vehicles, emphasizing vulnerable road user protection and driving safety.
Trucks – Launch of the Truck Safety Program in March 2023:
In March 2023, the Truck Safety Program was launched to improve truck safety, focusing on accident prevention and pedestrian protection.
ADAS Evaluation: How Do Euro NCAP and Regulatory Protocols Differ?
Euro NCAP’s testing protocols are crucial tools in advancing automotive safety. The 76 European vehicle approval regulations already ensure that marketed vehicles meet strict safety criteria. However, Euro NCAP goes further: its protocols provide a deeper evaluation of driver assistance functions, significantly reducing collision risks with other vehicles and protecting vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists).
Euro NCAP evaluates five key safety categories:
- Adult Occupant Protection: Assesses collision protection with a focus on vehicle structure and airbags.
- Child Occupant Protection: Evaluates child restraint systems and crash safety.
- Vulnerable Road User Protection (VRU): Tests vehicle capabilities in protecting pedestrians and cyclists.
- Safety Assistance: Assesses automated driving technologies and ADAS to prevent accidents.
- Truck and Van Safety: A specific program for evaluating heavy truck and commercial vehicle safety.
Beyond traditional crash tests, Euro NCAP’s safety protocols assess advanced active safety systems like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane-Keeping Assistance (LSS and LKA), and features that protect vulnerable road users (VRU). Some Euro NCAP protocols cover multiple real-world scenarios to evaluate driver assistance performance, ensuring thorough and representative safety assessments.
Transpolis, Committed to Road Safety
Through its activities, Transpolis is a key player in road safety in France and internationally. For its Vehicle Testing division, and thanks to its 130 hectares of test tracks, Transpolis hosts a wide range of vehicle tests, from reliability to performance assessments, including specific tests for passenger cars, van, heavy good vehicles, as well as autonomous and connected vehicles. Transpolis is also a hub for innovative projects dedicated to testing new mobility technologies. It supports initiatives such as eRoad Mont Blanc and autonomous vehicle projects.
ISO 17025 Accredited Testing Laboratory
Transpolis is a vehicle testing laboratory specializing in the development and evaluation of Advanced Driver Assist Systems. It has been ISO 17025 accredited since 2022 for a dozen regulations related to Euro NCAP and UNECE protocols. The company has recently expanded its ISO 17025 accreditation scope to include new regulations and test categories, enabling it to meet the requirements of vehicle testing protocols from development to homologation.
In 2024, the vehicle testing laboratory reached a new milestone, demonstrating the expertise and rigor of its teams: achieving ISO 17025 accreditation under Flex2. The Flex2 accreditation scope allows Transpolis to add or update regulations within its accreditation field without requiring prior evaluation from COFRAC. This provides greater flexibility to quickly adapt to technological and regulatory changes.
Transpolis Appointed as a Technical Service for the State
In 2023, Transpolis was designated as a Technical Service by the French National Vehicle Reception Center (CNRV). As such, Transpolis is authorised to conduct homologation tests, in line with its ISO 17025 accreditation scope, and issue homologation reports.
Transpolis Involved in Truck Safety Working Groups
In December 2022, Transpolis was invited to participate in various working groups with a primary goal: achieving Vision Zero Accidents. “Safer Trucks” is one of the working groups set to revolutionize Euro NCAP testing. Previously focused solely on passenger cars, the ambition of zero accidents must now extend further.
Thus, Transpolis took part in creating test protocols in collaboration with official Euro NCAP laboratories and heavy good vehicle manufacturers. During the summer of 2023, the first validation tests of these protocols were crucial in making significant improvements.
Transpolis, the New Euro NCAP Test Center
Transpolis joins the selective network of official Euro NCAP test centers, which currently includes thirteen laboratories across Europe. These centers are chosen based on strict criteria, including the ability to perform tests according to Euro NCAP protocols, possession of state-of-the-art technical equipment, and proven expertise in automotive safety.
A State-of-the-Art Testing Center
Transpolis stands out for its modern infrastructure and cutting-edge equipment, specifically designed to meet the requirements of Euro NCAP and UNECE tests. With advanced simulation tools, official crash test dummies, driving robots, and accredited test tracks, the center can recreate numerous scenarios, from standard tests to complex situations.
A key aspect of Transpolis’ capabilities is the repeatability of its tests, ensuring consistent and reliable results.
Expertise in Active Safety Evaluation
With in-depth knowledge of Euro NCAP protocols, the center is equipped to test a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Support Systems (LSS), and Speed Assistance Systems (SAS).
Team & Department Organization
The Transpolis vehicle testing department comprises a team of around ten experts dedicated to evaluating safety technologies. Specialized engineers and qualified technicians collaborate to conduct rigorous and reproducible tests, ensuring reliable results. This team leverages its expertise to tackle active safety challenges while adapting to the rapid changes in modern mobility.
Test Equipment
Transpolis is equipped with Euro NCAP-compliant targets and driving robots, including various dummies simulating adults, children, and vulnerable road users (cyclists, pedestrians), as well as vehicle targets.
What Tests Does Transpolis Conduct for Euro NCAP?
Transpolis performs a wide range of tests in accordance with Euro NCAP protocols, including:
- AEB VRU (Autonomous Emergency Braking for Vulnerable Road Users), assessing pedestrian and cyclist safety.
- AEB C2C (Autonomous Emergency Braking Car-to-Car), evaluating emergency braking performance between vehicles.
- LSS (Lane Support Systems), analyzing a system’s ability to maintain or redirect a vehicle within its lane.
- SAS (Speed Assistance Systems), testing the system’s ability to adjust vehicle speed based on road conditions (traffic signs, speed limits, etc.).
- OSM (Occupant Status Monitoring), evaluating occupant attention levels while the vehicle is in motion.
CONCLUSION
With its COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation and status as an official Euro NCAP laboratory, Transpolis stands as a key player in road safety. Thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructures, expert teams, and mastery of the most stringent testing protocols, Transpolis actively contributes to advancing automotive safety.
Transpolis offers unique expertise in evaluating active safety technologies, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Support Systems (LSS), and vulnerable road user protection technologies (VRU).
By joining the Euro NCAP network, Transpolis confirms its leadership and continues to set the standard for excellence, benefiting both manufacturers and road users alike.