The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro has been awarded a two-star rating for adult occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP crash tests, raising fresh concerns about vehicle safety standards in the South African market. The model assessed under the Global NCAP Safer Cars for Africa campaign also received three stars for child occupant protection, with the testing body criticising the structural performance of the vehicle and the absence of key safety features.
Global NCAP’s assessment found that the Tiggo 7 Pro’s footwell area and bodyshell were unstable in the frontal impact test, limiting their ability to withstand additional load. The organisation further reported that a side pole impact test was not conducted because the tested variant did not provide standard side head protection for occupants in the front and rear seats. The absence of head-protecting side airbags increases the risk of severe head injury in lateral collisions, including impacts with poles or trees at relatively low speeds.
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard, along with seatbelt reminders for all seating positions. However, the seatbelt reminder system did not meet the specific performance thresholds required by Global NCAP’s protocols. The result places the Tiggo 7 Pro among a number of vehicles sold in Africa that have scored below three stars for adult protection in recent years.
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As reported by Global NCAP, the safety body criticised Chery South Africa for promoting a separate five-star Euro NCAP rating linked to the higher-specification Tiggo 7 Pro CSH variant tested in Europe. The organisation stated that ratings are market-specific and apply only to the exact vehicle specification assessed. It argued that highlighting a European five-star outcome without clearly differentiating between variants could mislead consumers about the safety performance of entry-level models sold locally.
The Automobile Association of South Africa, which partners with the Safer Cars for Africa initiative, described the findings as concerning. It also questioned a 2025 live crash test demonstration staged by the brand, stating that such exercises should align with established NCAP methodologies to ensure consistency and credibility. The AA indicated that Euro NCAP ratings cannot automatically be transferred to African markets unless the same specification is evaluated under the regional programme.
The debate comes amid rising consumer interest in Chinese vehicle brands, which have gained market share in South Africa’s competitive passenger vehicle segment. Industry data from Naamsa shows that Chinese marques have expanded their footprint over the past three years, supported by competitive pricing and extended warranties. However, safety ratings have become an increasing point of scrutiny as buyers compare features across segments.
Global safety advocacy groups have repeatedly highlighted disparities between vehicle specifications sold in advanced markets and those offered in developing regions, particularly in relation to side airbags, structural reinforcements and advanced driver assistance systems. Regulators in parts of Latin America and Asia have tightened minimum safety requirements in response, leading to measurable improvements in crash test outcomes.
Chery South Africa stated that the Tiggo 7 Pro sold locally complies with national regulatory standards. South Africa currently follows United Nations vehicle safety regulations but does not mandate all the crashworthiness and active safety requirements embedded in the latest Euro NCAP protocols. As a result, manufacturers are legally permitted to sell models that meet baseline standards even if they do not achieve higher voluntary safety ratings.
The two-star result is likely to intensify discussion about whether stronger mandatory standards and clearer consumer information frameworks are needed in the region. With sport utility vehicles dominating new vehicle sales and safety increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, independent crash testing outcomes are becoming more influential in the local automotive market.
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