Chery has used a series of events staged alongside the 2026 International Business Summit in China to underline a clear message: future family cars must be engineered for both real-world safety and fast-moving digital expectations. In front of global media and partners, the brand combined a public crash verification with announcements on in-car computing and hands-on demonstrations of hybrid and parking technologies.
The headline moment was a three-vehicle composite crash test involving the Tiggo 9, designed to reflect the kind of chain-collision loads that are difficult to capture in conventional single-impact testing. The SUV took a 50 km/h frontal strike while being hit from the rear at 40 km/h, pushing body rigidity, restraint timing and post-crash response systems to work together under severe conditions.
According to the results released on site, the passenger cell remained intact with no significant deformation to key pillars, while airbags and belt pretensioners deployed as intended. The doors unlocked automatically for rescue access, hazard lights activated, and no fuel leakage was observed. Chery says the Tiggo 9’s structure uses around 85% high-strength steel, including about 21% hot-stamped steel, supported by an optimised load path and a 10-airbag layout.
The test sits within the company’s stated ‘Global 5-star safety’ approach, which combines accredited in-house crash facilities with validation across major regional assessment programmes. For buyers, the emphasis is less about a single headline rating and more about how a vehicle behaves before, during and after a complex impact.
Chery also confirmed an expanded partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, adopting elements of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis to speed up development of software-defined vehicles. The collaboration covers next-generation digital cockpits, advanced driver assistance and ‘cockpit-driving’ integration, aiming for quicker response, smoother multi-screen interaction and scalable roll-out across different models and markets.
To bring the claims off the stage and on to the road, international media also joined a long-term test drive in Chengde, mixing urban traffic with mountainous routes. Chery highlighted the efficiency and energy management of its Super Hybrid system, alongside an intelligent parking feature that supports remote vehicle summoning and automated parking in tighter, obstacle-heavy environments. Verene Petersen, National Marketing Manager at Chery South Africa, said the developments point to vehicles that are “not only more advanced but also better suited to the demands of everyday driving conditions, from long-distance travel to urban mobility”.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
