Vehicles from China have certainly come a long way in terms of quality as the automakers have kept improving themselves since the 1980s when the industry began modernising. Today, they have advanced greatly to lead in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) – both in technology and numbers – as they start their global offensive.
But safety has been an area which has been a question mark, especially as those early models which were tested in Europe showed poor structural safety. Nevertheless, the Chinese automakers have steadily raised their vehicle safety levels and the latest ones are all on par with the Japanese and European vehicles when tested by independent organisations.
This includes fully electric vehicles and the latest to demonstrate this is Chery’s OMODA E5 which has scored the maximum 5-star rating from both Euro NCAP as well as the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).
While this top rating follows the OMODA 5 with only a combustion engine which had also scored maximum points in 2022, the fully electric OMODA E5 was also subjected to additional tests.
The results from both the independent assessments showed the OMODA E5 offering exceptional safety in Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, and Safety Assist. Contributing to the high score were features such as the ergonomically engineered child seat interfaces and advanced airbag system.
The OMODA E5 also showed impressive results in key AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) tests for Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist. These address the challenges posed by unpredictable road-users. Using the imagery and data obtained from its forward sensors, the ADAS 2.5 safety system analyses high-risk objects ahead over a broad speed range and responds swiftly when a collision is likely.
“With the announcement of the 5-star rating for the OMODA E5, our consumers can be rest assured and confident of driving home a stylish EV, equipped with the latest technologies and top-tier safety features,” said Michael Chew, Vice-President of Chery Malaysia.
The OMODA E5, one of four models in Chery Malaysia’s current line-up, is priced from RM146,818. For a limited period, authorised Chery dealers are offering a rebate of RM11,000 on the model.