ANNIE ALLEN (Motoring World’s European Correspondent)
After an initial setback in Euro NCAP’s rigorous crash and safety testing, Chinese automaker CHERY has successfully turned around the performance of its TIGGO SUV lineup.
During the first round of testing, a fault was identified in the vehicle’s safety system, prompting Euro NCAP to call for a retest. Despite CHERY’s initial attempt to fix the issue, the problem persisted. Following further consultation, and at Euro NCAP’s suggestion, CHERY undertook a complete redesign of the system.
The effort paid off. In the most recent evaluation, Euro NCAP confirmed that the issue had been resolved and subsequently awarded the TIGGO range a full five-star safety rating.
In a statement, Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP, commended the manufacturer’s response:
“It is pleasing for Euro NCAP to highlight yet another example of a car manufacturer responding positively to the findings of our rigorous, independent safety tests. CHERY acted swiftly to address the fault we identified, and the resulting fix has raised the TIGGO to a five-star rating. Striving toward the highest possible safety rating is in the consumer’s best interest.”
The development underscores the importance of independent crash testing and transparent industry standards in the growing global competition among automakers, particularly from China, seeking credibility in the European market.
While the initial fault raised questions about the consistency of safety engineering in emerging-market vehicles, CHERY’s prompt corrective action demonstrates a maturing commitment to global safety norms—a necessary step as Chinese brands expand aggressively into Europe.
