Security Risk: E-Car from China Fails Crash Test

The demand for electric cars is rising – and with it, the range of affordable models is growing, where no compromises on safety should generally be made. However, a new vehicle from China disappoints in this regard: The Dongfeng BOX, an inexpensive electric compact car from the Dongfeng Motor Corporation, scored only three out of five stars in the comprehensive tests by Euro NCAP.

Body Fails in Crash Test

ÖAMTC technician Thomas Hava explains where the biggest weaknesses of the Dongfeng lie: "In the frontal crash against another car, several welds in the body structure failed. This is a serious problem because the resulting deformation of the passenger cell can pose a massive danger to the occupants." The problem was discovered during the crash test against a mobile barrier, simulating a collision with another car at 50 km/h. Hava assumes that the risk of fatal injuries would increase massively at higher speeds.

Door Locking a Hindrance for Rescue Teams in Emergencies

Apart from that, two other problems were identified: After the impact in the described scenario, the automatic door locking did not open, which could cost rescue teams crucial seconds in an emergency. "Additionally, the airbag did not build up enough pressure, which in the test led to the dummy's head touching the steering wheel – and the lack of protection to prevent drivers from being thrown against the passenger side door in a side impact must also be criticized," summarizes the ÖAMTC expert. His conclusion: "Compared to other small electric cars, the BOX is significantly weaker: Models like the BYD Dolphin Surf, MINI Cooper E, Lynk & Co 02, as well as the new Renault 4 and 5, scored four or five stars – a clear indication of the safety gap in the Dongfeng BOX."

US Model Surprises ÖAMTC Positively

The rest of the tested vehicles were largely convincing. Worth highlighting: The Cadillac Optiq, a compact electric SUV, scored five stars and consistently good results – not a given for a vehicle from US production. Five stars were also awarded to the Audi Q3, BMW X3, Hongqi EHS5, IM IM5, Mazda 6e, and MG MGS6 EV, while the DS N°8 achieved four stars.

Chery Makes Improvements on TIGGO

A special case is the TIGGO series from the Chinese manufacturer Chery: After previous tests identified issues with child head protection in various side impact scenarios, which were criticized by ÖAMTC and Euro NCAP, the system was revised. The re-evaluation confirmed the improvement – the TIGGO 7 and TIGGO 8 models, as well as the identical EBRO s700 and s800, each received five stars. "A very constructive response from the manufacturer – and once again proof of how important independent and rigorous tests are for consumer protection," Hava concludes.

Overall Results of the Current Test Series

Vehicle Rating

Audi Q3 ★★★★★

BMW X3 ★★★★★

Cadillac Optiq ★★★★★

CHERY TIGGO 7 (Re-evaluation) ★★★★★

CHERY TIGGO 8 (Re-evaluation) ★★★★★

Dongfeng BOX ★★★☆☆

DS N°8 ★★★★☆

EBRO s700 ★★★★★

EBRO s800 ★★★★★

Hongqi EHS5 ★★★★★

IM IM5 ★★★★★

Mazda 6e ★★★★★

MG MGS6 EV ★★★★★

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.