ANNIE ALLEN (European Correspondent)
In an embarrassing blow to China’s state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the company’s latest budget electric hatchback — the Dongfeng BOX — has performed dismally in independent European crash safety testing, scoring a disappointing three stars from Euro NCAP.
The result is a major setback for Dongfeng’s ambitions in the European EV market, where competition is fierce and safety credentials can make or break a newcomer.
During Euro NCAP’s frontal offset crash test, designed to mimic a head-on collision, the BOX’s structural weakness was brutally exposed. Multiple spot welds failed on impact, compromising the vehicle’s body shell integrity — a fundamental flaw that could prove catastrophic in real-world crashes.
“It was a concern that the spot welds were compromised during our tests and could be further compromised in higher-speed accidents,” said Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP.
“Such a failure must be addressed to match competitor vehicles in what’s a fast-growing part of the EV market.”
That’s a diplomatic understatement. When spot welds fail, the car’s core structure effectively collapses, dramatically increasing the risk of deformation around the cabin and exposing occupants to far greater injury.
The BOX achieved a 69 percent score for Adult Occupant Protection, but Euro NCAP flagged numerous deficiencies beyond its unstable bodyshell. The driver’s airbag failed to fully inflate, allowing the head to strike the steering wheel. The dashboard posed risks to lower limbs, and the automatic door locks failed to disengage after impact — a potentially fatal flaw in an emergency.
