Chinese cars all fail crash tests- badly

[#juan]

Chinese cars perform horribly in crash tests

by Auto123.com, auto123.com (June 27, 2007)
If recent crash test results are any indication, then North American automakers have little to worry about in terms of a Chinese invasion. Recent videos and images circulating the internet show some repulsive-looking crash tests on a few models. The tests were conducted in Germany at the ADAC Test Centre.

In particular, the Brilliance BS6 was put into a 40-mph offset front impact which saw the frame deflect so badly that the driver door popped out of its frame, and later required a crowbar and some muscle to open. The rocker panels kink and bend, showing a lack of integrity in the car's structure, while the A-pillar collapsed like a poorly-built piece of patio furniture.

Compare the photos or video to a top-marked North American car, and the Chinese machine looks like it was traveling four times the speed after the impact. A BMW 3-series, for instance, shows little to no intrusion into the passenger compartment in the same test that would have seen the driver's legs mangled in the Brilliance. Side-impact performance was equally as poor, and fatalities would be probable. This was a machine intended for sale in North America within a year or so, and would have competed with the VW Passat and Audi A6. Good luck, Brilliance.

The BS6's less-than-brilliant crash impact performance earned it one star, a failing grade. But it's not the only Chinese deathtrap tested by the ADAC in the recent past. In 2005, they tested the Jianling Landwind SUV, and the machine performed so poorly that sales were halted in Europe.

Brilliance said they wouldn't stand in the way of owners wishing to return their cars because of the crash tests.

These crash tests won't help any more than the name, "Brilliance" did.

 

[#juan]

The photo above is of a forty mph test. While most cars are not driveable after that test, they are not a write-off like the Brilliance.

 

[Phil B]

That is pretty shocking!

Looks like it was built with Balsa wood and gaffa tape..

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Ah yes, the same people who've recently sent us wheat gluten contaminated with melamine as filler for pet food, adulterated toothpaste pretending to be the Colgate brand, vitamin and mineral supplements containing toxic heavy metals and bacteria, and not the amounts of ingredients the labels claim, children's toys with lead in the paint, and gawd knows what else. I've also seen small electrical appliances like fans and toasters made in China for sale at big box discount stores, that don't have the CSA or UL label on them. They need to learn a little something about standards and quality control, and we need to do a better job of enforcing ours. I don't buy "Made in China" things if I can avoid it, too much of it's just shoddy.

 

[Curiosity]

Hmmmmmmmmm Rickshaw specs.

 

[Twila]

Ah yes, the same people who've recently sent us wheat gluten contaminated with melamine as filler for pet food, adulterated toothpaste pretending to be the Colgate brand, vitamin and mineral supplements containing toxic heavy metals and bacteria, and not the amounts of ingredients the labels claim, children's toys with lead in the paint, and gawd knows what else. I've also seen small electrical appliances like fans and toasters made in China for sale at big box discount stores, that don't have the CSA or UL label on them. They need to learn a little something about standards and quality control, and we need to do a better job of enforcing ours. I don't buy "Made in China" things if I can avoid it, too much of it's just shoddy.

Really, what the hell is going on with them? I thought CFIA was in charge of making sure food entering Canada fell under certain guidelines?

 

[#juan]

Really, what the hell is going on with them? I thought CFIA was in charge of making sure food entering Canada fell under certain guidelines?

Reminds me of a brass lamp I won at the PNE one year. Thing is, it wasn't brass, it was brass painted plastic. I put a bulb in it and turned it on and the plastic melted and the lamp drooped like a drunk. I thought; how in hell did csa ever let that piece of junk into the country......oops....no label.

With the cars there is a little thing called engineering that seems to have been missed altogether.

 

[Curiosity]

My dad would never allow anything "Made in China" into our house - but I thought that had something to do with unions.... maybe it had to do with lack of quality of product?

 

[Curiosity]

Question

If China is exporting defective product - how can they build such masterpieces as the Wall and the Three Gorges ??? Are there two Chinas operating simulataneously?

 

[#juan]

My dad would never allow anything "Made in China" into our house - but I thought that had something to do with unions.... maybe it had to do with lack of quality of product?

Funny. I remember labels that said "Made in occupied Japan". They were a glowing signpost telling you to leave that product alone because it was junk. As we all know, the Japanese have grown up since then. The Chinese still have to learn.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

CFIA generally does a pretty good job, but all they're mandated to do is inspect food intended for human consumption. Pet food, tooth paste, and dietary supplements aren't part of their business. The regulatory regime is pretty fragmented.

A relative of mine works for a firm that makes electronic sub-assemblies for outfits like Cisco and IBM. They tried setting up a plant in China and just couldn't get the locals to understand what quality and reliability mean. The Chinese figured as long as it worked when it went out the door, that's the end of their interest in it. Which explains a lot.

And... the Three Gorges is no masterpiece according to what I've heard, it's been plagued with problems from the outset. I know some engineers who've been there--just went fishing with a couple of them in fact--and they were appalled by the lack of standards and quality. That dam is unlikely to last its designed lifetime, in their professional opinion.

 

[Curiosity]

Strange stuff going on there - looks like they are anxious to display great feats of engineering, construction and taming the land - which may be disastrous for some people down the timeline...

Perhaps China's corporate entities know little of 'quality control' issues.