- The Dongfeng Box has had an unsatisfactory time in Euro NCAP crash testing.
- The small city EV has only scored 3 stars in the European safety body's assessment.
- Dongfeng will launch in New Zealand before the end of the year.
In a blow for its impending local launch, the Dongfeng Box has had a less than stellar performance in Euro NCAP crash testing.
While it was still awarded three stars, the small EV scored just 69 percent for adult occupant protection and 67 percent for vulnerable road user protection, but did better in child occupant protection (81 percent) and safety assists (77 percent).
However, things fell apart for the Box - literally, it turns out - when a number of spot welds failed during the offset front impact test, which could potentially increase the risk of deformation around the cabin and reducing protection for occupants.
It was also noted that the steering wheel airbag lacked sufficient pressure to keep the driver's head from making contact with the wheel, which can be seen in the accompanying video. The passenger's airbag doesn't seem to suffer from the same issue. Euro NCAP also penalised the Box for its lack of a central airbag for front occupants.
"The Dongfeng Box doesn’t match the safety performance of other small EVs tested by Euro NCAP," said the organisation in a statement.
"It was a concern that the spot welds were compromised during our tests and could be further compromised in higher-speed accidents. Such a failure must be addressed to match competitor vehicles in what’s a fast-growing part of the EV market."
While this is an alarming safety wobble for a new brand entering New Zealand, a final local score could well be different - neither issue would need extensive redesigns to address and could well be sorted before the Box launches here.
While Dongfeng will launch here before the end of the year, it has yet to be finalise timings for its three models at launch, so there is time to address the Box's shortcomings before it arrives here, much as another new entrant did - the Chery Tiggo 7 and 8 were both initially marked down for an issue with their rear curtain airbags when originally tested in July this year, but a quick redesign saw them both pick up five stars in a reassessment in the current round of testing.
Dongfeng will launch locally with the Box, the Vigo medium SUV and the 007 sedan, with initial retail stores in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and additional stores to be added throughout the country, according to local distributor Armstrong's Distribution Ltd.