Chinese car manufacturer's safety test slip-up: "Airbag ripped from its mount"

The expansion of Chinese electric cars in Europe is becoming increasingly noticeable. In Poland, Asian electric vehicles are also common on the roads. Nevertheless, drivers remain ambivalent about them. They praise their competitive prices but are wary of previously unfamiliar brands. Safety concerns also play a role.

Chinese cars are doing increasingly well in Poland. According to the SAMAR institute, 11,000 were registered in 2024, with 16,600 more units joining them this year. Despite a slight dip in June, this trend means that it's possible to break the 30,000 registration mark in 2025 .

With this growing presence, one of the most pressing concerns for drivers is car safety. New data from Euro NCAP, an independent institute that assesses crash safety, recently emerged. The following vehicles were tested in recent tests:

• Lynk & Co. 02
• OMODA 9
• Polestar 4
• ZEEKR 7X
• MG P9 EV
• Chery Tiggo 7
• Chery Tiggo 8

The results were mixed. The last two models suffered major setbacks.

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Euro NCAP's report indicates that inspections of the Tiggo 7 revealed a defect in the curtain airbag , the one designed to protect the passenger from impact with the vehicle's side in the event of a collision. The malfunction resulted in reduced protection for the child seated in the rear. The report added that the manufacturer was given the opportunity to improve the installation of this component.

He took advantage of this opportunity, but the next test was also disappointing. The airbag was torn from its mounting, raising serious doubts among experts about the systems' reliability.

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As a result, the Chery Tiggo 7, and due to its similar design, the Chery Tiggo 8, received lower scores and were awarded four stars instead of the maximum five. The company has been asked to re-evaluate the design of the faulty mechanism. A correction may be in the works. Euro NCAP emphasizes that these results indicate that achieving a five-star rating remains a significant challenge for manufacturers.

The other Chinese vehicles tested fared much better, all receiving five stars. The Polestar 4, ZEEKR 7X, and MG P9 were praised for their level of adult occupant protection (92 and 91 percent, respectively). The OMODA 9 received 90 percent in the same category, as did the Lynk & Co. 02. The latter also demonstrated a high-quality driver assistance system (89 percent).

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These results demonstrate that Chinese cars are capable of competing with established brands like Audi, Ford, and Volkswagen. Chinese vehicles are strengthening their position across Europe.

Chery has already opened an assembly plant in Spain and plans similar operations in Germany. BYD, in turn, is planning a large factory in Hungary. In April 2025, BYD sold more electric cars in Europe than Tesla for the first time.