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Chinese car passes crash test in Germany
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-08 06:57
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The "Landwind," the first Chinese car to go on sale
in Europe, has proved itself to be safe after passing a crash test in Germany,
the company says.
"The result of this crash test is very encouraging," Peter Bijvelds, the
Dutch importer of the Chinese sports utility vehicle, told a press conference on
Thursday in the Hague, the Netherlands.
"The crash test measurements for both driver and passenger confirm that this
vehicle is fully compliant with current EU regulations," said Bijvelds.
The positive result from the test, organized by German inspection agency TUV
in Frankfurt, contradicts the conclusion of another crash test by German car
club ADAC in September.
The ADAC said its crash test indicated that the driver would not survive a
head-on collision at speeds of 64 kilometres per hour or more.
The front of the SUV would crumple and crush the driver, the unofficial
organization said.
Bijvelds, however, questioned the validity of the first crash test and even
suggested the ADAC were manipulated by the powerful German automotive industry,
which could want to find a way to keep Chinese competitors from entering the
market.
Bijvelds said that it was "a great coincidence" that the results of the ADAC
crash test were published on the eve of the Frankfurt car show, where the cheap
Chinese SUV was officially unveiled. It has now been on sale in Europe for three
months.
He also said it was strange that the manufacturer was not informed of the
test results, as is usually the case to help manufacturers learn and improve
their vehicles.
"We, as the official importer, had not been informed before the test and we
were not invited to be present when the test was performed. Upon our request for
further information, there was only silence," he said.
In response to the ADAC's warning, Landwind's maker, China's Jiangling Group,
asked the German agency TUV to test the vehicle to see if it complied with
European safety standards.
(China Daily 10/08/2005 page2)
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