ANCAP calls on Foton to deliver Tunland utes for safety testing

The independent vehicle safety authority ANCAP has vented rare public frustration at the Chinese ute brand Foton and its Australian distributor Inchcape for not supplying its new Tunland ute for testing.

The four-model reborn Tunland range is launching now in Australia.

However, no vehicles will be available for Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) testing until 2026, meaning the Tunland will be assessed under tougher new protocols that kick off on January 1, 2026.

That will make it harder to achieve the maximum five-star rating judged critical for fleets. Eighty per cent of ute sales in Australia are non-private.

ANCAP voiced its frustrations after carsales inquired about the Tunland’s testing status, following Inchcape’s refusal to comment at last week’s media launch.

Typically, new vehicles have undergone ANCAP testing by the time they launch in Australia, with results released shortly after.

But not in this case.

ANCAP CEO, Carla Hoorweg said in an emailed statement that ANCAP has been “monitoring the arrival of the Foton Tunland” and has been “in discussions with Inchcape regarding testing and rating” under the 2025 criteria.

So far, Inchcape has not provided ANCAP with access to vehicles for safety testing, delaying the assessment process.

“Given the model’s introduction so close to the end of the current protocol period, ANCAP strongly encourages Inchcape to make vehicles available for testing at the earliest opportunity, so that testing can be completed this year, to 2025 requirements,” said Ms Hoorweg.

“Further delays will result in this vehicle being tested to the new 2026 requirements.”

ANCAP has outlined the changes coming to its testing protocols in 2026, with full details expected to be released before the end of the year.

The Tunland range comes with eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, and a group of lane keeping assistants. Rear cross traffic alert is available, though without braking functionality, and driver monitoring is limited to the top-spec Tunland V9-S.

While ANCAP was assertive in its statement, Inchcape tried to play down suggestions that the delay was a serious concern.

In fact, the Inchcape response indicates the Foton plan was to have ANCAP’s European partner Euro NCAP test the vehicle. Apparently, this was because of difficulties securing test facilities in Australia.

Some crash testing is expected to be completed in Europe, while the majority of the testing will take place in Australia. 

Foton already has a European presence including, Russia, where this vehicle has launched.

“We are working closely with ANCAP and Foton International to test the Tunland,” said Inchcape in a statement to carsales.

“Due to overseas shipping times to Europe and limited test slots available, completing testing this year proved too tight.

“Given the compressed timelines to test under the current ANCAP protocol, we are working towards an early-2026 testing window, which would see the vehicle assessed to ANCAP’s 2026 protocol.

“This reflects our ongoing commitment to independent safety assessment and our determination to achieve the highest standards of safety performance for Australian drivers.”

There will be plenty of talks to come between Inchcape and ANCAP on this one.

In fact, this isn’t the only issue ANCAP and Inchcape have clashed over recently. Updates to the driver assist deactivation shortcuts in the Inchcape-distributed Deepal S07 have also prompted a request for clarification from the safety authority.

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