Dongfeng’s baby car has gone from provisioning two airbags to six and adopts more refinements, with market-leading price unchanged.

SIGNIFICANT upgrades, including strengthening of its safety suite, has been announced for the country’s cheapest electric car just days after it achieved a massive sales month.

The Dongfeng Box, a compact urban model, has been subject to media and consumer comment here for having landed with such a low safety ingredient NZTA Waka Kotahi decided it had to be ‘unrated’ under the auspices of the Vehicle Safety Risk scoring system.

The agency might have cause to alter its view in light of the distributor having announced impending arrival of an improved specification, holding the same market-leading $29,990 price as the original but updating - among other changes - the airbag count from two to six.

In any event, the first assessment seemed to matter not a jot to buyers last month.

Registrations data suggesting the car in its original format was a particular beneficiary of a huge jump in electric car registrations, triggered by pump fuel price increases and growing public uncertainty about future supply disruptions.

Dongfeng, which is represented by Rick Armstrong’s Auto Distributors operation, registered 336 BEVs in March, making it the third-largest BEV brand off a standing start. The Box accounted for 260 of those registrations.

Whether that buy-in represents a complete clearance of stock that accrued since it released in November is not clear, though it seems likely given tenor of comment shared today.

In sharing that the new specification is soon to avail, the chief executive of Armstrong Distribution Limited has also suggested it would be prudent for potential buyers not to hesitate.

“As part of the new MY26 upgrades, we have been able to negotiate extra stock and also accelerate supply from Dongfeng. This means there will be a greater number of new Box available even sooner for Kiwi motorists.

“Given the increasing enquiry for EVs, we’re encouraging people to secure their new vehicle with a pre-order, to ensure there are no delays getting behind the wheel of a new fully electric vehicle when they arrive in the country.

“We have already received first pre-orders for the new MY26 Box.”

Notwithstanding the headlines over its safety assessment, the car had “debuted to great reviews which have praised its all-round suitability for urban commuters looking for a stylish, efficient and competitively priced fully electric vehicle with outstanding features, impressive technology and great range.”

“It is also renowned for its efficient performance and amazing versatility when it comes to manoeuvrability, making it the perfect car for city-based driving.

“Now, the new MY26 takes all the best features and builds on several areas.”

In wake of the Waka Kotahi furore, ADL had indicated it was hoping to achieve a better car, but said that process was taking time. In reality, the solution has arrived quicker than it previously left impression was possible.

Additional to the airbag count improvement, freshened or additional features for the car include integrated AppleCar Play, three steering variable profiles, a new Electric Green paint with White roof option.

The car still lacks a safety score from the national auditor, Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) and that seems unlikely to come until, or unless, Dongfeng decides to provision cars to Australia, where the test is undertaken.

The $29,990 plus on road launch offer starts today and is available until the end of May, after which time the price steps up to $32,990 plus on roads. That latter sticker was also intended for the original car, but never applied - instead, it discounted to $26,990 in new form, with demonstrators selling for $2000 less than that.

Rutherford contends the Box is well positioned with it’s “segment-leading” 317km WLTP EV range and impressive features including 12-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, power driver’s seat, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control and automatic parking.

The new airbag provision now matches how it equips in China, consisting of front driver and passenger, two front side and two head front-rear curtain. ADL explains it had no say in the car originally provisioning with just a pair of frontal airbags, saying that had been decided by the factory.

“When we first announced Dongfeng was coming to New Zealand, we said we wanted to challenge and then exceed expectations,” Rutherford said.

“That also means continual development and enhancement, which is what we’re demonstrating again … in partnership with Dongfeng, we’re continuing to break barriers to EV ownership.”

In addition to the Box, Dongfeng has a medium SUV, the Vigo, and a large performance coupe, the 007. The brand represents in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga Wellington and Christchurch.