GAC AUSTRALIA has reversed its decision to delete seatbelt pretensioners and rear-seat belt reminders from its new entry-level Emzoom Premium, confirming the safety equipment will return to Australian-market vehicles from MY27 production.
The backflip follows criticism from independent vehicle safety authority ANCAP, which described the deletion of seatbelt pretensioners as a “retrograde step” and urged the Chinese manufacturer to reconsider the specification of its cheapest SUV.
GAC announced the Emzoom Premium last week at $22,990 driveaway – $4000 below the existing Emzoom Luxury and equal with the MG ZS Vibe as Australia’s cheapest new SUV.
However, achieving the lower price involved removing several features fitted to the Luxury grade, including front- and rear-seatbelt pretensioners and a rear-seat belt reminder system.
Other deleted equipment includes the panoramic sunroof, ventilated and electrically adjustable driver’s seat, front parking sensors, surround-view camera, and rear windscreen wiper.
ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg criticised the move, saying pretensioners had been commonplace in new vehicles since the mid-1990s and remained a fundamental occupant-protection measure.
“Offering a lower purchase price should not come at the expense of proven, fundamental occupant protection features that are already available on other Emzoom variants,” she said.
GAC Australia has now acknowledged concerns raised by customers and industry stakeholders and confirmed that both features will return.
In a statement, the importer said the omission reflected the specification of the Emzoom Premium in other international markets rather than a decision unique to Australia.
“It has since been confirmed that these features are not standard equipment on the Emzoom Premium grade in other global markets, contributing to their exclusion from the Australian specification,” it said.
“GAC International has now confirmed that both safety features will be reinstated for vehicles produced for the Australian market from Model Year 2027 production, with arrivals expected from November.”
The change will not, however, arrive in time to be of benefit to the first batch of Emzoom Premium vehicles due to reach Australian dealerships from early September.
Those MY26 plated vehicles will continue to be supplied without seatbelt pretensioners or rear-seat belt reminders, meaning there will be a short period in which two otherwise similarly positioned Emzoom Premium specifications are offered in Australia.
GAC’s current Australian specification sheet confirms the Premium uses front- and rear-seatbelts with force limiters only, while the more expensive Luxury combines pretensioners and force limiters and includes a rear-seat belt warning system.
Neither pretensioners nor rear-seat belt reminders are currently mandated under the Australian Design Rules, although ANCAP places considerable emphasis on occupant restraint performance when assessing vehicles.
The Emzoom has yet to receive an ANCAP safety rating.
ANCAP said the model remained a potential candidate for testing and could be independently selected for assessment even if GAC did not nominate it.
GAC said it would continue reviewing its Australian product specifications to ensure its vehicles met customer and industry expectations.
“Providing vehicle specifications that meet, and where possible exceed, the expectations of Australian customers and industry experts remain a priority for GAC,” it added.
“We will continue to review and enhance our product offering to ensure our vehicles align with market expectations and customer needs.”