Earlier this month, Euro NCAP, the independent organisation that evaluates the safety performance of new vehicles, awarded the OMODA C9 SHS a five-star safety rating. The new plug-in hybrid, launched in South Africa last month, scored 90% in Adult Occupant Protection, 85% in Child Occupant Protection, 81% in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 80% in Safety Assist.
In testing, the C9 SHS excelled in the Adult Occupant Protection category thanks to its cage-type energy-absorbing structure and triple load-transfer pathways. During the challenging 50% offset movable deformable barrier test, it demonstrated exceptional energy absorption and dispersion, with minimal cabin deformation and outstanding protection for knees and femurs.
The side mobile barrier test earned a perfect score, while its front and rear seats effectively mitigated whiplash in rear-impact simulations. Additional safeguards include advanced E-Call emergency alerts and secondary collision prevention.
The C9 SHS achieved a top score of 24 points in the Child Occupant Protection category, performing exceptionally well in simulated crash tests involving six- and 10-year-old dummies. Designed with family safety in mind, it features dual ISOFIX anchors in the second row, front passenger airbag deactivation for rear-facing child seats, and a child presence detection system for added peace of mind.
Passive safety is only part of the picture—the C9 SHS also offers extensive active protection, thanks to 18 advanced ADAS features that support intelligent risk detection in real-world driving. In Euro NCAP testing, it scored impressively in the Vulnerable Road User (VRU) category, particularly in scenarios involving pedestrians and cyclists. The C9 SHS earned 24.6 out of 27 points in the VRU Impact Mitigation assessment, including full marks for AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) Motorcyclist and Cyclist Dooring Prevention.
The ADAS delivers reliable performance in high-frequency scenarios such as lane-keeping and speed assistance, providing consistent safety support. The driver fatigue monitoring system utilises direct eye-tracing technology to detect drowsiness or distraction, significantly enhancing the safety of long-distance driving. Additionally, the intelligent speed limit assist accurately recognises road signs and pairs with adjustable speed control for comprehensive protection.
The C9 SHS’s five-star performance is all the more impressive when you consider that Euro NCAP has made its testing protocol more stringent since 2023. Stricter requirements include far-side occupant protection for pole collisions and doubled penalties for frontal structural compatibility issues. This includes 100 new test scenarios for active safety systems, such as crossing vehicle collision simulations, high-speed head-on collision scenarios, motorcycle crash tests, and more.
In its first month, the C9 SHS achieved 50 sales, underscoring strong demand for a premium, powerful, and affordable plug-in hybrid SUV. Elsewhere, the C9 SHS has achieved sales success in Europe, topping its segment in Poland, ranking top 3 in Italy, and outselling several established rivals in the United Kingdom, ranking fourth overall in May. In September, the C9 SHS will make its German debut at the IAA Mobility Show, before being introduced to the Australian market in the coming months.
“The five-star Euro NCAP rating reinforces what the C9 SHS was built to deliver: smart safety, strong performance, and exceptional value,” commented Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager at OMODA South Africa. “From the outset, we engineered this vehicle to meet the highest global standards, and it’s rewarding to see that reflected not only in the results, but in the strong customer response—both here in South Africa and key markets around the world.
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