This August, South Africa becomes the stage for a bold automotive safety demonstration as Chery prepares to conduct the continent's first real-world, dual-vehicle head-on collision test. Two identical Tiggo 9 SUVs, engineered to meet demanding global safety benchmarks, will collide on a straight tar road in a specific 50% offset impact, replicating a tragically common high-risk scenario on local roads.
The test, happening at 50 km/h with impact focused on the right-hand side, responds directly to South African road safety concerns. Research highlights that head-on collisions occur more frequently here and carry a higher fatality rate compared to global averages. Adding weight, a recent Kantar survey confirms safety is now a critical deciding factor – often non-negotiable – for local car buyers.
Lots to look at in our Chery selection of pre-owned vehicles - click here
"This test tackles a significant challenge head-on," commented Verene Petersen, Chery South Africa's National Brand and Marketing Manager. "South Africa's serious accident rates demand solutions beyond the ordinary. By mirroring one of our most dangerous crash scenarios, we're rigorously evaluating the Tiggo 9's systems and showcasing how targeted engineering can help mitigate real-world collision impacts."
The performance of both Tiggo 9 vehicles will be scrutinised across multiple safety aspects during and after the impact. Experts will assess the body structure's strength, how effectively the seatbelts and airbags (including curtain airbags) work together, the stability of the passenger compartment, fuel system integrity, and how easily rescue crews could access occupants afterwards. The goal is an authentic evaluation under conditions mimicking actual accidents.
The Tiggo 9, Chery's flagship model that made its global debut in the UAE late last year and is now rolling out in key markets, is built with a strong safety focus. Its structure relies on heavy-duty steel cage construction, featuring significant use of high-strength and hot-formed steel. Key passive safety elements include a dual-impact-beam design, a segment-leading standard far-side airbag for front passengers, and a lengthy side curtain airbag system. Furthermore, the SUV comes equipped with 19 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent accidents before they occur.
Looking for a safe car for a student then click here
While the Tiggo 9 has already proven robust in Chery's demanding internal crash tests – including severe frontal and side pole impacts – this real-world, two-vehicle challenge in South Africa marks a significant step. It forms a key part of Chery's wider 2025 global Safety Challenges initiative. This ambitious program subjects vehicles to extreme environments worldwide – from scorching heat and freezing cold to high speeds and rough terrain – combining real-world testing and user feedback across strategic global regions to continually validate durability and the reliability of Chery's Super Hybrid technology.
Chery's choice of South Africa for this specific, extreme collision scenario underscores its commitment: delivering consistent global quality and safety standards, tailored to meet the distinct challenges faced in every market it serves. Previous demonstrations in this initiative include a rigorous battery seawater immersion test in Indonesia and a challenging battery scraping assessment in Mexico.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
proudly CHANGECARS
