The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) today released its latest assessment result on the NETA V which was launched in Malaysia last year. It is the first fully electric vehicle tested by the organisation which is hosted by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS). The program was established in 2011 through a collaboration between MIROS and Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP).
After assessing the data from the crash test conducted at the MIROS Provisional CRASE Crash Centre (PC3) in Melaka, the score was so low that it could not qualify for any stars (maximum of 5). It is the first model to have a zero-star rating under the ASEAN NCAP 2021–2025 protocol.
The EV model achieved an overall score of 28.55 points in the assessment with 7.89 points for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), 13.51 points for Child Occupant Protection, 7.14 points for Safety Assist, and 0 points for Motorcyclist Safety category.
The EV model produced by Hozon Auto in China, which is also marketed in Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand, did not get any points for the frontal offset test which simulates a typical collision with a solid barrier. The data show that the dummy driver received poor protection on the head, neck, chest and right lower leg.
According to ASEAN NCAP, the frontal offset test showed poor protection to the front occupants due to the weak body structure and compromised restraint system, greatly endangering the safety of the car occupants. The front seatbelts also do not have any retractor pre-tensioner and load-limiters. Hence, without these crucial technologies for the seatbelt, it had caused higher risk injuries to the test dummy when it came in contact with the steering wheel or airbag during the impact. Basic safety features as retractor pre-tensioner and load-limiter for the seatbelts can result in significant difference in the outcomes for the safety of the vehicle occupants.
Steering wheel displacement (moving out of its original position) is one of the modifiers that ASEAN NCAP found post-crash apart from integrity of passenger compartment and A-pillar displacement.
In the side impact test, the model only received 6.31 points over 8.00 points with the dummy having had marginal protection to the chest. The model tested did not have any Head Protection Technology equipment, which also contributed to it not getting any points for the assessment.
In the dynamic assessment for the COP category, the NETA V performed well in both frontal offset and side impact tests. However, the model received poor points for the Child Restraint System (CRS) installation and vehicle-based assessments. Despite having ISOFIX and top tether fitments, the model was found to not have a friendly fitment installation to more than half of the list of CRS that ASEAN NCAP recommends.
The NETA V comes with 2 airbags, Seatbelt Reminder System for driver only, ABS and Electronic Stability Control as standard. However, it lacks the active safety systems which assist the driver such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning which are becoming common in many new cars.
In addition, all the technologies that ASEAN NCAP is assessing under the MS category such as Blind Spot Technology, Auto High Beam and Pedestrian Protection are not available in the model.
“Safety features are also critical points to be considered when purchasing a car. NETA V’s disappointing result in ASEAN NCAP’s assessment is a reflection for other EV brands to not compromise basic safety equipment in cars. With high competition amongst EV manufacturers, it is important for manufacturers to place safety as the main priority when developing a vehicle. We at MIROS and ASEAN NCAP encourage all manufacturers, especially from the EV brands, to make safety as priority as we aim for the global target of halving road fatalities across the region,” the organisation said.
[Click here for full ASEAN NCAP report]
Vehicles not scoring any stars in crash tests has been an issue in other regions such as India and South America, and the NCAP organisations there have been pressing manufacturers to improve their safety standards and provision of safety equipment and technologies. A car that is cheap but unsafe should not be sold.
In the ASEAN region, ASEAN NCAP has been influential in persuading manufacturers to raise their standards over the years. It has also periodically updated the requirements for scoring so as to remain relevant and also ensure that consumers get new technologies as they become available.
For instance, many years ago, the organisation made dual front airbags a requirement for maximum scoring, followed by electronic stability control. The absence of these – even if the score was 5 stars – would disqualify the model from getting the maximum score.
While manufacturers may want to control production costs, the fact remains that safety is a crucial aspect which should not be compromised by omitting certain systems or features. Organisations like ASEAN NCAP formulate standards which take into account the stage of availability and adoption of new technologies, and expect them to be included when costs become low enough.
It should also be noted that while the NETA V is from a Chinese manufacturer, there are many vehicles from that country which have scored top marks in crash tests by ASEAN NCAP and other similar organisations in other regions.