The "Landwind," the first Chinese car to go on sale in Europe, has proved itself to be safe after passing a crash test in Germany, the company says.

"The result of this crash test is very encouraging," Peter Bijvelds, the Dutch importer of the Chinese sports utility vehicle, told a press conference on Thursday in Hague, the Netherlands.

"The crash test measurements for both driver and passenger confirm that this vehicle is fully compliant with current EU regulations," said Bijvelds.

The positive result from the test, organized by German inspection agency TUV in Frankfurt, contradicts the conclusion of another crash test by German car club ADAC in September.

The ADAC said its crash test indicated that the driver would not survive a head-on collision at speeds of 64 kilometers per hour or more.

The front of the SUV would crumple and crush the driver, the unofficial organization said.

Bijvelds, however, questioned the validity of the first crash test and even suggested the ADAC were manipulated by the powerful German automotive industry, which could want to find a way to keep Chinese competitors from entering the market.

Bijvelds said that it was "a great coincidence" that the results of the ADAC crash test were published on the eve of the Frankfurt car show, where the cheap Chinese SUV was officially unveiled. It has now been on sale in Europe for three months.

He also said it was strange that the manufacturer was not informed of the test results, as is usually the case to help manufacturers learn and improve their vehicles.

"We, as the official importer, had not been informed before the test and we were not invited to be present when the test was performed. Upon our request for further information, there was only silence," he said.

In response to the ADAC's warning, Landwind's maker, China's Jiangling Group, asked the German agency TUV to test the vehicle to see if it complied with European safety standards.

(China Daily October 8, 2005)