NZ’s cheapest EV lacks side airbags, deemed “unrated” for safety

The Dongfeng Box currently on sale in New Zealand has just two airbags and does not match the specification of the vehicle tested by Euro NCAP, leaving it officially “unrated” by both ANCAP and NZTA.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has taken the step of labelling the vehicle unrated on Rightcar.govt.nz. 

“NZTA has assigned the Dongfeng Box an ‘unrated’ label on Rightcar, after it was identified the Dongfeng Box has a lower level of crash protection than would normally be expected for a 2025 vehicle,” it explained in a statement.

The move is significant because vehicles without a valid overseas crash rating typically receive a default five-star VSSR (Vehicle Safety Risk Rating). However, NZTA has declined to award this default rating to the Box.

Priced at $29,990, the Box is New Zealand’s cheapest electric vehicle currently available.

Auto Distributors Limited (ADL), the importer of Dongfeng vehicles in New Zealand, has confirmed the Box sold here differs significantly from the left-hand-drive model that received a three-star Euro NCAP rating in Europe.

The New Zealand specification lacks side and curtain airbags, as well as advanced driver monitoring systems and eCall emergency assistance technology that were fitted to the tested European vehicle.

“The Box is an unrated car as per Rightcar and has been since launch,” ADL General Manager Arek Zywot told AutoTalk.

As EVs and Beyond understands it, no other new passenger car currently sold in New Zealand—excluding commercial vehicles—comes with only two airbags as standard equipment.

Not an importer’s choice

According to Zywot, the decision to import a two-airbag specification wasn’t theirs to make. “The only specifications made available to us in RHD matched what was in the ASEAN RHD market set. All levels had the two airbags, and we took the highest specification available which includes the ADAS package.”

When asked whether they believe this specification meets the safety expectations of modern Kiwi consumers, Zywot said: “Yes, we do with the combination of ADAS and other features.”

Authorities step in

NZTA has assigned the Dongfeng Box an “unrated” label on its Rightcar website and is currently working through next steps for the vehicle’s rating.

ANCAP has also made it clear the European test results cannot be applied to the New Zealand car. “ANCAP is aware that the Dongfeng Box currently being sold in New Zealand is a different specification to the vehicle recently assessed by Euro NCAP,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg.

“Based on information provided to ANCAP, the vehicle sold in New Zealand is fitted with two airbags and does not include the additional airbags and safety technologies present on the vehicle in the European market.

“As a result, ANCAP is unable to issue a comparable safety rating for that specification. The vehicle is therefore considered unrated by ANCAP in its current form.”

Specification differences not clarified

When EVs and Beyond asked ADL representatives about the Euro NCAP result at the vehicle’s launch, they noted it was “one point off a four-star rating.” However, they did not clarify that the New Zealand specification lacked the six airbags and advanced monitoring systems that were present in the tested vehicle.

Zywot has now acknowledged that “1 point below would not be the case without the side airbags but believe the overall rating would still be 3* but cannot speculate as we need to await the NZTA/ANCAP outcome.”

The company says it doesn’t believe a correction is needed regarding public communication, noting they “have never claimed the specification does match the European” model.

What customers were told

ADL says it won’t compensate customers who may have purchased a Box under the impression it aligned with the Euro NCAP safety rating, pointing to specifications listed in their brochure and the vehicle’s unrated status on Rightcar. The company’s brochure does correctly list the two-airbag specification.

Structural issues remain

The Euro NCAP report also identified structural problems, noting that “multiple spot welds had failed on the A-pillar” during crash testing. Zywot confirmed there has been no specific action taken on the manufacturing process for New Zealand vehicles, stating that IDIADA’s evaluation recommended no modifications be made.

ANCAP is aware of the structural failures discovered during testing and noted that if the European specification vehicle were to arrive in Australasian markets, those technical concerns would carry over.

What happens next?

The company is currently in discussions with Dongfeng about when the left-hand-drive specification with additional airbags may become available for right-hand-drive markets, though there’s currently no firm timing.

ANCAP encouraged manufacturers and distributors “to ensure the highest level of safety specification is offered across all markets, including New Zealand.”

The Dongfeng Box remains available for purchase as an unrated vehicle and could be considered for full testing by ANCAP in the future.