26 Sep 2013

It’s official – Chinese cars have really arrived

By Padraic Deane On September 26, 2013

For a number of years the Chinese cars that ventured to European and American motor shows have been ridiculed for copying designs and styling from other marques. They has also been hammered in crash tests – the Landwind CV9 compact MPV got the worst score (two stars) of all cars tested in 2010.

However, like others before them that are now well established car manufacturing nations, they learn hard and they learn fast. And this week that has all changed with China’s shining Star – Qoros gaining a maximum 5 star safety rating from Euro NCAP. The Chinese have arrived!

Euro NCAP released two crash test results this week. First up, I expected the new Kia Carens to achieve 5 Stars. I’ve just completed a week-long test in one. It’s stylish, with great MPV accommodation and excellent drivability.

But no one saw the Chinese manufactured Qoros 3 Saloon achieving the holy grail of car safety tests this year. The Qoros 3 is their first production model. It made its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

The Qoros 3 Saloon also reached the five star overall rating, a first in Euro NCAP’s programme for a car developed in China. The small family car showed good overall protection with high scores in all four areas of assessment and is a significant step up from previous Chinese exports tested by Euro NCAP.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General told the AutoTrade.ie : “It is pleasing to see that a new manufacturer like Qoros should place a high emphasis on safety and perform well in our tests. Manufacturers know that consumers are used to the highest levels of protection and that new cars will be scrutinised if they are put on sale in Europe.”

The name Qoros is an invented word, but the Q is intended to represent quality. It looks to be on the right track for a business that was only first registered in 2007.

Qoros is Shanghai based and is a 50:50 joint venture between Chery Automobile and Israel Corporation, which is Israel’s largest holding company.