Neta V fails to pass ASEAN NCAP crash test; gets 0 rating

KUALA LUMPUR: While the Chinese EVs have been dominating the electric vehicle market around the globe, their safety is often a matter of concern. And recently, the safety rating of a Chinese electric hatchback grabbed everyone’s attention. We are talking about the Neta V, which received a zero rating in the ASEAN NCAP crash tests.

Built in China for ASEAN markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand, the Neta V grabbed just 28.55 points overall. The category-wise points are as follows - 

Category	Points
Adult Occupant Protection	7.89 out of 32.00
Child Occupant Protection	13.51 out of 51.00
Safety Assist	7.14 out of 21.00
Motorcyclist Safety	0 out of 16.00

Notably, the Neta V is the first Neta model being tested by the ASEAN NCAP. As we can see in the above table, the EV performed poorly in the Adult Occupant Protection category with a score of 6.31 out of 8 points only in the side impact test.

The tested model was packed with only two airbags with front seatbelts not having any retractor pre-tensioner and load limiters. Due to a weak body structure and compromised restraint system, it offered poor safety for front occupants in the frontal offset test.

The hatchback also failed to meet the required standards in Child Occupant Protection and scored just 13.51 out of 51.00.

In terms of the Safety Assist Technology, the Neta V grabbed 7.14 points out of 21.00 with the Effective Braking and Avoidance (EBA) and a Seatbelt Reminder (SBR) available only for the driver. Notably, the electric hatchback does not come with any advanced gears like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, and Lane Departure Warning.

And lastly, in the motorcyclist safety crash test, the EV received dreadful zero points as none of the technologies such as Auto High Beam, Blind Spot Technology, and Pedestrian Protection were available.

Neta V in Malaysia

Neta (owned by Hozon Hozon New Energy Automobile) made its official entry in Malaysia with the launch of the Neta V in October 2023. 

Touted as Malaysia’s cheapest EV, this small electric car is priced at just RM 100,000 (on the road without insurance). It is distributed through Intro Synergy in the local market, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GoAuto Group.

Despite its affordable price tag, the Neta V fails to woo Malaysian customers. It grabbed 22nd position in the top 30 best-selling EVs in Malaysia in November 2024, according to the data recently released by the Road Transport Department (JPJ). 

If we talk about the year-to-date tally, the EV holds 18th place with a total of 222 units delivered so far this year. 

All-in-all, the ASEAN NCAP safety rating of the Neta V reiterates the importance of considering the safety aspect while purchasing a vehicle. What do you think? 

Also read: Leapmotor C10 grabs 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating