The Dongfeng BOX, an affordable electric hatchback from China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, received a three-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests, exposing structural vulnerabilities in a competitive European EV market.
Euro NCAP found that multiple spot-welds in the BOX’s body shell failed during frontal offset crash tests, which simulate car-to-car collisions. These failures compromise structural integrity and could increase the risk of cabin deformation in higher-speed accidents.
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The vehicle scored 69 percent for Adult Occupant Protection. Additional issues included a steering wheel airbag with insufficient pressure, a dashboard structure posing risks to leg safety, and a malfunctioning automatic door lock that could hinder first responders. The BOX also lacks measures to prevent occupant-to-occupant impact during side collisions.
Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP, said, “It was a concern that the spot welds were compromised during our tests and could be further compromised in higher-speed accidents. Such a failure must be addressed to match competitor vehicles in what’s a fast-growing part of the EV market.”
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By comparison, other affordable EVs in Europe, such as the BYD Dolphin Surf, MINI Cooper e, Lynk & Co 02, and Renault 4 and 5, have achieved four or five stars, highlighting a safety gap for the BOX.