Compact Ora hatch among models singled out for recognition by Euro NCAP.

A COMPACT electric car out of China being mulled for New Zealand introduction having done well in Euro NCAP, whose ratings matter here, is being celebrated.

Great Wall Motors, whose Haval and GWM brands already represent in our market, is delighted that the Funky Cat from another of its makes, Ora, achieved best-in-class results in the testing regime’s ‘Small Family Car’ category.

It says the outcome is testament to the efforts of GWM Ora to produce a safe, quality and reliable electric vehicle that not only meets European safety criteria, but exceeds it – out performing many key rivals.

The car’s achievement awas recognised by Euro NCAP overnight when it announced the cars that were best-rated for their categories from testing conducted in 2022, its busiest-ever year. All were electric.

All but one of the other category ‘winners’ is already on sale in NZ, or are signed off for sale here.

The organisation noted the Funky Cat as being among the cars that achieved the highest overall scores, based on their results for Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable User Protection and Safety Assist technologies.

These results underline the importance of the Euro NCAP five-star rating for establishing safety, credibility, and quality in the European market for vehicle manufacturers in Europe, but also beyond Europe’s borders, it says.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 topped the best-in-class award in the Large Family Car category; Tesla Model S secured the Executive Car category; Tesla Model Y topped the Small Off-Roader category and the Wey Coffee 01 was highest out of large off-roaders. Wey is another GWM brand, not seen here as for now it only builds in left-hand drive at present.

Commenting about the safety performance of Ora Funky Cat, Euro NCAP commented: “Several manufacturers are showing that Chinese brands can now compete on safety with well-established European brands. In the Small Family Car category, the ORA Funky Cat is exceptionally well equipped and, being at the top of its class, outperformed several familiar brands.”

Last year Thatcham Research also announced Ora Funky Cat as one of the top 10 safest cars to be launched into the United Kingdom, so far the largest right hand drive market.

It seems possible Ora Funky Cat would represent in NZ with the same specification offered to the UK. Standard equipment there includes 360 degree cameras, adaptive cruise control with lane centring function, lane change assist, blind spot detection, traffic sign recognition, emergency braking and rear cross traffic alert and brake.

Euro NCAP is a sister organisation to the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme which receives funding from the NZ Government and other agencies. ANCAP scores have highest recognition here; ANCAP often adopts Euro NCAP data.

On January 1 the NCAP regime brought in protocol upgrades designed to raise the bar even further.