Figure 1 – Automotive ecosystem from systems thinking perspective.
implied a complex system’s behaviour is similar
to ‘water in the bathtub’, as shown in Figure 1.
And without a proper ELV policy and system, we
have no idea how many cars are actually going out
from the system. Meadows used the word “boring”
system to emphasise the lack of dynamicity, and
a “boring” automotive ecosystem in the country is
a huge threat to economy (car demand) as well as
the environment.
MIROS is also promoting the ‘Safer Cars’
initiative, which is primarily driven by the
automobile safety rating programme known as the
New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast
Asian Countries, or ASEAN NCAP. The crash tests
and related assessments are done by MIROS
researchers and this programme has now started
to influence consumers. Thus far, ASEAN NCAP has
produced more than 90 ratings (from a total of 20
makes/brands/original equipment manufacturers,
(OEMs) and the car safety level has tremendously
improved. Malaysia, where the NCAP programme
is based, has received the greatest benefit from
it including local car manufacturers – Proton and
Perodua. For example, there are no more cars
without airbags and the Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) braking system is becoming more common
among affordable cars in the country. Figure 2
explains how the Safer Cars initiative provides
better and more affordable safety to consumers.
At this level, we can hypothesise that occupants
will be better protected if two highly-rated cars
collided – though we cannot guarantee how a car
will crash, especially in mismatched cases (e.g.
car vs. pickup).
Conclusion
“Water
in
tub
view
point”
–
Donella
H
Meadows
(2008)
Safer
Cars
NEW
CARS
EXISTING
CARS
Cars
Leaving
The
System
• Be2er
safety
&
quality
• Affordable
safety
Automo&ve
Ecosystem
Figure 2 – Safer new cars will hypothetically
improve the ecosystem.
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