Carsome has decided to dips its toes into the new EV game but may have chosen the wrong product to start.
In a controversial move, Carsome, Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, has expanded its offerings to include new car sales, beginning with the Neta V and Neta X electric vehicles (EVs). Among these, the Neta V has garnered significant criticism, having recently received a 0-star rating from the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Safety Concerns for the Neta V
The ASEAN NCAP crash test report reveals alarming deficiencies in the Neta V’s safety features and structural integrity. Scoring only 28.55 out of 120 possible points, the Neta V failed to meet the basic thresholds across multiple categories:
1. Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): The Neta V achieved just 7.89 points, mostly from side-impact tests. Frontal impact tests revealed poor protection for the driver’s head, chest, and lower legs, with weak structural performance and compromised restraint systems.
2. Child Occupant Protection (COP): Despite achieving 13.51 points, the vehicle’s limited compatibility with standard child restraint systems raises further safety concerns.
3. Safety Assist Technologies (SAT): With only 7.14 points, the Neta V lacks crucial active safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist, and Forward Collision Warning. Even basic seatbelt reminders are limited to the driver.
The vehicle is equipped with only two airbags, lacking advanced restraint technologies like pre-tensioners or load limiters. Its inability to provide adequate protection highlights significant lapses in both design and manufacturing quality. What’s more, the Neta V is understood to be using a lithium ion battery pack, which is considered to be more prone to fires than LFP batteries employed by many rivals.
Carsome’s Responsibility
By introducing the Neta V to its platform, Carsome has chosen to sell a vehicle that fails to meet minimum safety standards, potentially endangering customers. Carsome’s entry into the new car market is a bold strategy, but the decision to include a zero-star vehicle tarnishes the company’s reputation for reliability and consumer trust.
