Geely Auto Safety Centre Sets New Safety Benchmarks

What Is the Geely Auto Safety Centre?

The Geely Auto Safety Centre is a state-of-the-art vehicle research and crash-testing facility operated by Geely Auto, the Chinese automotive giant that holds a 49.9% strategic stake in Malaysian national carmaker Proton. Situated in the Hangzhou Bay industrial zone of Zhejiang Province, China, the centre represents an investment of approximately RMB 500 million (RM 314 million). It serves as the primary global hub for passive and active safety development across all Geely-owned marques, including Lynk & Co, Zeekr and – critically for Malaysian consumers – Proton. The facility directly addresses the growing demand for safer, more resilient vehicles on Malaysia's diverse road network, from congested city streets to high-speed tolled expressways. With the capacity to execute over 1,200 full-vehicle crash tests annually, the Geely Auto Safety Centre is among Asia’s most advanced automotive safety laboratories.

"Our safety philosophy revolves around real-world occupant protection. This centre allows us to replicate accident scenarios specific to Southeast Asian roads, including those typical of Malaysian driving environments," Dr. Li Huai, Chief Safety Engineer at Geely Auto, told CarSifu during an exclusive walkthrough of the facility. — Dr. Li Huai, Chief Safety Engineer, Geely Auto, as reported by CarSifu

Key Facts

How Does the Centre Enhance Proton Vehicle Safety for Malaysians?

Every new Proton vehicle developed on a Geely platform undergoes an average of 350 virtual and 180 physical crash tests at the centre before production sign-off. This exhaustive process validates the body structure, airbag deployment and restraint systems for realistic Malaysian accident patterns, including head-on collisions on rural trunk roads and side-impacts at busy urban intersections. The result is a measurable leap in occupant protection – Proton models utilising Geely's safety architecture demonstrate up to 40% greater torsional rigidity compared to previous indigenous designs, according to Proton's 2023 engineering briefings.

Malaysian buyers directly benefit from locally tailored validations. For example, the centre's barrier systems can replicate the exact profile of guardrails used along the North-South Expressway. Active safety systems are also fine-tuned: the centre's 200-metre indoor track employs a 500-nozzle rain simulation rig to ensure that electronic stability control and autonomous emergency braking perform flawlessly during Malaysia's heavy monsoon storms. In a 2023 ASEAN NCAP assessment, the Proton X70 recorded the highest adult occupant protection score ever achieved by a Malaysian-assembled SUV, a performance directly credited to iterative testing at this Geely facility.

What Advanced Testing Technologies Does the Safety Centre Employ?

The centre operates one of Southeast Asia's most dense arrays of instrumentation. Each crash test is captured by a minimum of 20 Phantom high-speed cameras recording at 1,000 frames per second, synchronised with a 50-channel onboard data acquisition system measuring accelerations, cabin deformation and dummy injury metrics. The standout asset is the vehicle-to-vehicle impact simulator, capable of propelling two B-segment sedans into a closing-speed collision exceeding 80 km/h — a crucial test for Proton models that frequently encounter such accidents on undivided roads.

A dedicated pedestrian protection laboratory fires instrumented headform and legform impactors against production-spec front fascias to optimise bumper and bonnet compliance. In the active safety department, the indoor weather chamber can recreate tropical downpours while sensors validate lane-keeping and auto-braking functions. Automated driving validation is supported by a fleet of GPS-guided robotic dummies that interact with test vehicles at intersection scenarios typical of Kuala Lumpur’s multi-lane junctions.

Who Benefits Most from This Centre in Malaysia?

The primary benefactors are Proton car buyers, especially young families and fleet operators who prioritise occupant safety but operate within a tight budget. Because the enormous cost of crash-testing is absorbed within Geely's global R&D budget, Proton is able to offer advanced safety features at price points previously impossible. For instance, the Proton X50 (from RM 79,800) includes six airbags, electronic stability control and autonomous emergency braking as standard across all variants — a specification that rivals European compact SUVs priced 40% higher.

Local industry also gains: since 2021, Proton has rotated more than 50 Malaysian engineers through the Hangzhou Bay centre for hands-on training in safety integration and crash simulation, helping to upskill the domestic automotive ecosystem. A 2024 Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) consumer survey found that 73% of Proton owners ranked vehicle safety ratings as a primary purchase motivator, underscoring the market relevance of the centre’s work.

Common Questions

Does the Geely Auto Safety Centre test Proton cars using ASEAN NCAP standards?

Yes. The centre’s testing matrix explicitly mirrors both Euro NCAP and ASEAN NCAP requirements. For Proton vehicles destined for the Malaysian market, mandatory protocols — such as the 64 km/h offset deformable barrier test — are executed repeatedly to guarantee a 5-star result under the latest ASEAN NCAP regime.

Will the centre's technology improve safety on upcoming Proton models like the S70?

Proton has confirmed that the next-generation S70 sedan is being developed using the Geely centre’s full test suite. Early prototypes have completed side-impact and rollover evaluations, with data indicating a projected 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating. The facility’s simulation tools have cut structural development time by an estimated 25%, expediting safer new model launches.

How does the Geely Safety Centre compare to Volvo's safety laboratory, given Geely's ownership of Volvo?

Although Geely owns Volvo, the two centres operate independently and target different brand portfolios. The Geely facility specialises in high-volume, fast-cycle testing for mainstream models, whereas Volvo’s Torslanda lab focuses on premium vehicle safety. However, the Geely centre incorporates many Volvo-derived testing philosophies, making it one of the most productive safety labs in Asia by annual test throughput.

Sources and Methodology

This article is primarily based on the CarSifu news report “Geely Auto Safety Centre Sets New Safety Benchmarks” (published November 2023). Supplementary safety ratings were verified against ASEAN NCAP official results and Proton Holdings Berhad press releases. The consumer survey figure is cited from a 2024 MIROS report on Malaysian car buyer behaviour. Currency conversions from Chinese Yuan (RMB) to Malaysian Ringgit (RM) use an approximate exchange rate of 1 RMB = 0.63 MYR. All information is current as of 28 January 2025.