Safety rating of Dongfeng Box EV under review by ANCAP, NZTA

Following the confirmation of several critical safety updates earlier this month, the local crash test safety rating of New Zealand’s most affordable electric car — the Dongfeng Box — is expected to be updated to echo the model’s rating in Europe. 

As previously reported, ANCAP and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi took the unique step in January of giving the Box an ‘Unrated’ safety classification, on the basis of locally sold versions of the model only coming with two airbags. 

It had previously been expected that the Box would inherit the same 3-star safety rating the model had been awarded by Euro NCAP. It appears that fresh improvements to the nameplate’s safety will lead to a ratings bump. 

Earlier this month, Dongfeng’s local arm announced it would be introducing a MY2026 update that aligns the model's safety specifications with variants sold in Europe. Most notably, the model now gets six airbags. 

Speaking to CarExpert NZ, an NZTA representative confirmed that conversations with ANCAP and Dongfeng distributors Auto Distributors NZ are taking place to update the car’s safety rating.

“ANCAP are currently in discussion with ADNZ/DongFeng to determine if the specifications of the facelifted variant will enable the Euro NCAP rating to be translated to an ANCAP rating,” said the representative.

“There are a few specific protocols that must be met to enable that. [...] NZTA are awaiting the outcome [....] before we are able to make any further assessment.” 

The specific protocols the car has to meet include demonstration that “the existing Euro NCAP star rating is also applicable to model variants in Australasia in accordance with the Application of Star Ratings protocol”. 

The rating also has to be published in Australasia “no more than one calendar year after the original Euro NCAP rating was published”. Euro NCAP published its original 3-star rating last October.