11 Nov 2021

GWM makes step forward with safety enhancements to Ute.

Australasia’s independent vehicle safety authority, ANCAP SAFETY, has today announced a 5 star ANCAP safety rating for all GWM Ute dual cab utilities built from 1 August 2021. The Ute has been assessed against ANCAP’s current and most stringent 2020-2022 test criteria, with models produced from August 2021 providing a high level of safety to occupants and other road users. The GWM Ute becomes the third vehicle in its segment to achieve 5 stars under the latest protocols.

GWM Ute models built from August 2021 performed well in ANCAP testing, achieving full points in side impact and far-side impact tests (for both adult and child occupants), full points in testing of active lane support system functionality, strong scores for driver protection in frontal impact crashes, and a high level of protection in rear impact whiplash crashes.

ANCAP’s full width frontal and whiplash tests did however reveal safety related deficiencies with the performance of front head restraint and steering column components in GWM Ute models built between September 2020 and 31 July 2021. These deficiencies have now been addressed with GWM implementing design changes to all newly-built models to improve safety performance in these crash conditions. Additional ANCAP tests have verified improved performance.

GWM has committed to improve the performance of earlier-built vehicles through a targeted service campaign as required under ANCAP protocols. Owners of vehicles built between September 2020 and 31 July 2021 are strongly advised to have the rectification action completed as soon as possible so that their vehicle can also meet 5 star ANCAP safety requirements.

“This is a good outcome for consumers and fleet buyers in Australia and New Zealand, and has been achieved as a result of market demand for five star vehicles, consumer expectation and the strong influence of ANCAP protocols,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.

“GWM has shown its willingness and strong commitment to providing its customers with the highest levels of safety by swiftly incorporating improvements to address deficiencies in existing vehicles and as a result, Australian and New Zealand consumers are being supplied with a safer vehicle.”

“This rectification action for all vehicles already in the market would not have come without the pressure applied through ANCAP protocols.”

“Consumers and fleet owners need to be aware that if their vehicle was built prior to August 2021 it is not 5 star rated until the rectification action is complete, and ANCAP will be monitoring progress of the service campaign to ensure all in-service vehicles are fixed quickly.”

“Those who have already purchased a vehicle built prior to August 2021 should return their vehicle to their local dealership and have the no-cost rectification action completed in order for that individual vehicle to meet the 5 star standards and ensure they have the safest vehicle available,” Ms Hoorweg added.

The safety performance of the new GWM Ute is a marked improvement on its 2 star predecessor, the GWM Steed, rated by ANCAP in 2016.

Full details on performance of the current generation GWM Ute are available here.

EDITORS NOTE:

  • Under strict ANCAP protocols, vehicle manufacturers are permitted to review the results obtained through ANCAP testing and, where specific criteria are met, can apply for an improved vehicle to be re-tested. The ability to re-test a vehicle is an option available to all manufacturers in a very narrow range of circumstances and exists to encourage manufacturers to strive for the highest level of safety.
  • Re-testing protocols require manufacturers to be able to demonstrate that the production changes will significantly improve safety performance, and must implement the changes for vehicles in production as well as all vehicles already in-market. It is not common for manufacturers to be able to satisfy these requirements – they are onerous, and are designed to provide an incentive for manufacturers to improve vehicles that have already been sold to consumers in the Australasian market.
  • Public health requirements and state-based lockdowns have impacted ANCAP’s test program during 2021 resulting in delays to the conduct of testing and publication of ANCAP safety ratings for a number of vehicle models.

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Rhianne Robson
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