When Geely, via its strategic partnership with Proton, had the Okavango tested at the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) every other publication was quick to praise its 5-star rating in 2023. Except for, you guessed, it, us.
At the time, we didn’t just rely on the press release, but rather, we dove deep into the Geely Okavango (tested as the Proton X90)’s test results. We found out that for the Okavango to achieve the coveted 5-star safety rating, it needed the full suite of Advanced Driver Assist System or ADAS as well as blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert—features which the Philippine model didn’t have, even as an option.
Well, the ASEAN NCAP seems to agree. In a rare occurrence, the testing body dropped the Okavango (X90)’s 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating to a 1-star rating following the removal of ADAS elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
The ASEAN NCAP says:
The ASEAN NCAP says:
Upon reviewing the official specifications for the newly launched 2026 Proton X90 [Geely Okavango], ASEAN NCAP found that a majority of the ADAS technologies present during the 2023 assessment have been removed. These include:
Under the ASEAN NCAP 2021–2025 Protocol, a vehicle’s star rating is restricted if it performs poorly in any single category, ensuring “all-round protection.”
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Blind Spot Technology (BST)
The removal of these technologies has caused the Safety Assist (SA) score to drop to a 4-Star level, while the Motorcyclist Safety (MS) category—which relies heavily on Blind Spot Detection—has plummeted to a 1-Star rating. Consequently, the Proton X90’s overall rating is capped at 1-Star.
“We deeply regret Proton’s decision to remove life-saving ADAS technologies from the new facelift model. To protect consumers and maintain the integrity of safety standards, we have no choice but to revoke the 2023 5-Star rating. This serves as a reminder to all manufacturers: safety is not a trade-off. Do not sacrifice proven safety technology for ‘face-value’ luxuries like infotainment systems or leather upholstery,” said Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Siti Zaharah binti Ishak, Director General of MIROS (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research).
“Blind Spot Detection (BSD) is a critical weighted factor in our Motorcyclist Safety category. Its removal, alongside other advanced safety assists, has stripped the X90 of the points that previously earned it a top-tier rating. Safety must be a priority accessible to all, not a luxury. ASEAN NCAP will continue to monitor all rated manufacturers; we will not hesitate to revoke the ratings of any brand that compromises vehicle safety post-assessment,” said Ts. Yahaya Ahmad, Technical Leader of ASEAN NCAP.
Chinese anutomakers are cheating and wants to make more and more money.
ReplyDeleteCould the DOE also revoke the hybrid designation on the Okavango already?
ReplyDeleteJust checked...holy shit...the DOE just did.
DeleteGood on the DOE for finally doing so. The Okavango getting a pass as a hybrid always felt fraudulent.
DeleteWill the DOE do the same for the Mazda CX-60s and the CX-90s,
Deleteboth being Mild Hybrids?
Chinese automakers better do things well if they want to compete long term and dominate the car industry. Seems like they don’t really care about anything but making money.
DeleteLow quality low price strategy. Byd now painfully learned that lesson. Byd sales dropped for straight 6 months, December 2025 down 30% and January 2026 down 41%.
DeleteI had an Okavango for two years before giving it up in favor of an MU-X powered solely by a 1.9 diesel ICE. I dunno what use a mild hybrid has except for, perhaps, slightly more power on tap. Fuel consumption was appalling at 6km/l on city driving in traffic.The "dual clutch wet type" whatever tranny was quirky and jumpy. Never mind the ADAS, even. the suspension was stiff, Oem tires had absolutely no grip on wet, inclined carpark ramps. It was as forgettable an experience as my Starex Millenium edition which I also got rid of after 25,000 km, also about two years after I got it. The Koreans have come a long way from those early days stumbles. I would give the Chinese automakers, in general, another 5 years to prove xonaistent reliability and quality before I consider them again. Bells and whistles should not detract from the core qualities a Joe Everyman looks for in putting his hard earned money on the line.
ReplyDeleteSeen the video how BYD car was made, it's all machines human intervention are very limited, it's like making a plastic toy, that's why some time quality are not good, compared to other car makers there a lot of human making the quality control, I think that is the reason why Chinese cars are cheap, they save on labor cost.
ReplyDeleteHuman error is exactly what causes quality issues. What you're describing is the exact opposite of the real-world benefits of modern manufacturing.
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