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SAIC-Volkswagen Passat is a product with a very deep foundation in the emotion of Chinese consumers, but this model received poor reviews in the recent 25% bias crash results of the China Insurance Research C-IASI. After the video was released, it became popular in various channels. The Passat's nose collapsed badly, the A-pillar bent nearly 90 degrees, and the airbag completely avoided the driver.

Made in Germany is often endowed with adjectives such as "rigor" and "craftsmanship". German cars, which have always been famous for their safety, are famous for their safety and thick brand. why did the C-IASI in China achieve the worst record in history?

We found that the comment area was very lively recently when Volkswagen's official Weibo was "besieged" by netizens because of the great deviation between Passat's performance in crash safety and consumers' impression.

One netizen said: "Passat's score is simply beyond the lower limit!" Your food is too ugly, you have made so much money from the Chinese, why sell cars even if you can't guarantee the most basic safety? " There are also many netizens said bluntly, "the whole village dining car."

At the same time, Volkswagen gives Chinese consumers the result of disappointment, and there are those who hope it can give an explanation. "Why is it that Volkswagen sold in China is the worst version in the world? we must give an account to the owners of Volkswagen in China." Netizens said.

Passat's main problem

The new SAIC-Volkswagen Passat model, which was launched in October 2018, is made on the MQB platform, with new changes in appearance and interior style. in theory, this is the latest technology and technology in the Volkswagen Group. In this time, the Passat C-IASI tested the 2019 Passat 280TSI Business Edition, which is a minimum configuration, equipped with a 1.4T engine and a 7-speed dry double clutch, without a side air curtain.

The collision test process is "shocking", and there are mainly several problems:

1. The front part of the car does not absorb the collision energy well, and the firewall shrinks inward, which leads to the deformation of the cockpit and further erodes the living space.

2. The A-column can not resist the collision energy, and there is a 90-degree bend, and the structure and strength are obviously unreasonable.

3. The steering wheel suddenly moved sharply to the side of the co-driver during the collision, and the airbag could not play a protective role. At the same time, the dummy hit the hard object twice, causing injury.

As a result, SAIC-Volkswagen Passat scored the lowest P in the most important positive 25% bias crash rating, ranking bottom of all 41 C-IASI models so far, with a score of 44 (the higher the worse), well above the 24 points of the Pentium T77, Kia Zhi run, Buick GL8, BYD Song MAX and Volkswagen Tuguan L.

It is obviously unacceptable to give such a result to Chinese consumers. China Insurance Research C-IASI and the American Highway Safety Insurance Association IIHS adopt the same test procedures. The American version of Passat based on PQ46 platform has received excellent evaluation in the 25% offset collision test of IIHS. Even if the A-pillar is slightly deformed, it also leaves enough living space for drivers, which is completely unlike the 90-degree bend of Passat, the latest domestic platform.

Such a sharp collision contrast, people suspect that the domestic Passat manufacturing standards are different, or there is the possibility of serious reduction.

Can it constitute a defect recall?

Recalls caused by design defects and manufacturing defects are not uncommon, such as the FAW-Volkswagen "broken shaft door" incident that shocked the whole country. In February 2015, Volkswagen recalled what car owners dubbed "patching" to install metal liners on the longitudinal arms of the rear axles due to the frequent occurrence of broken axles. In December 2017, Volkswagen released technical remedial measures to replace new metal linings with integrated electronic sensors for related vehicles.

In that case, SAIC Volkswagen Passat A-column design in doubt or obvious lack of strength, excessive steering wheel displacement and other problems, whether constitute a defect recall?

According to the measures for the implementation of the regulations on the Administration of defective Automobile products recalled by the General Administration of quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the AQSIQ may organize and conduct defect investigations under any of the following circumstances:

(1) the producer fails to carry out investigation and analysis in accordance with the requirements of the notice;

(2) the results of the investigation and analysis of the assessed producers cannot prove that there are no defects in the automobile products;

(3) there may be defects in automobile products that may cause serious consequences;

(4) after experimental testing, automobile products of the same batch, model or category may not meet the national and industry standards for ensuring personal and property safety;

(5) other situations in which it is necessary to organize and carry out defect investigation.

From this point of view, the Passat A-column strength can not meet the latest collision standards, excessive steering wheel displacement airbag failure, resulting in driver collision injury, may cause serious consequences.

If the information collected by the recall information management system and the complaint information of relevant units and individuals are determined by the AQSIQ as possible defects in the product, the producer shall immediately carry out investigation and analysis. According to the defect investigation plan, if the producer confirms that there is a defect in the automobile product through investigation and analysis, he shall immediately stop producing, selling or importing the defective automobile product and carry out a recall.

It means that if the manufacturer's "conscience" recalls itself, it is a kind of compensation for all users; if the manufacturer does not think that it constitutes a defect recall, as long as the user complaint information is valid, it can prompt the manufacturer to recall to improve the safety of the vehicle.

The public has to give an account.

Passat crash test results announced for many days, SAIC Volkswagen, Volkswagen has not made a sound, many consumers strongly want to say. Some industry insiders said, "Volkswagen almost wiped out the crash test results, the need to explain, is not 'why you can do so badly', but 'why the Chinese version is the worst'."

The American version of Passat is excellent in the collision test, while the Chinese version of Passat is at the bottom, which is a very obvious product difference. The industry insiders also said, "Chinese users, in fact, the most unbearable is internal and external discrimination, which is even more abhorrent than buying a real bad car." Failure to do so is a matter of ability, but not to do it, or to do it in a discriminatory manner, is a matter of abominable attitude.

Nowadays, the competition in the domestic car market is extremely fierce, and the market share of each brand may be replaced by other competitors at any time, and the sustainability of products and word-of-mouth is very critical, but in the process of pursuing profits, it happens that domestic consumers' trust in this brand is taken as a bet and will eventually be abandoned by consumers or sooner or later.

The facts are in front of us, and only one statement is owed to the public. "if there is no explanation about this, and cars are still selling well in a few days, it will really be a victory for profiteers, and we deserve it." The above-mentioned people have expressed their clear position.

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