Chery recently completed the second edition of its ‘Global Safety Challenge’ in Indonesia, where it submerged the batteries of a Tiggo 8 CSH (Chery Super Hybrid) in saltwater for a whole 53 hours. After reinstalling the submerged batteries, they drove the car down a steep slope without any issues, in a demonstration of the battery’s resilience.
Chery Sales Indonesia Head of Brand Department, Rifkie Setiawan, said, “Through the ‘seawater immersion and real-world driving evaluation’, we have validated the battery’s seal durability against corrosive liquids, and comprehensively examined its insulation performance, structural integrity, and charge/discharge stability. These results confirm that Chery’s battery systems are built to remain robust even under the most extreme environmental conditions.”
Saltwater was chosen for the test specifically due to its highly corrosive and conductivity nature, which can easily short-circuit electronics – a by-effect from its abundance of electrolytes. The construction of the Tiggo 8 CSH battery, however, means that it is perfectly capable of withstanding up to 200 kN of force, protecting it against high pressure and harsh conditions.
The battery is protected by Chery’s Chainmail Battery Safety Structure with 14 anchor points that boost chassis strength by 7%. It is also further insulated with over 10 layers at the base, 15 on the sides, and 16 thermal layers to endure harsh environments. All of this add up to an official IP68 water and dust resistance rating, and Chery says it can also withstand temperatures ranging from -35°C to 60°C.
Chery’s Global Safety Challenge is a real-world testing campaign showcasing the brand’s commitment to safety, by running their vehicle through localised extreme safety tests. The first one was held in Wuhu, China, where they conducted rollover tests, dual-vehicle collisions, and a 48-hour seven-vehicle vertical stack stress test. This series of challenges aligns with Chery’s “In Somewhere, For Somewhere” strategy, which adapts product engineering to local environments.
The second challenge, held this time in Indonesia, was designed test the car’s ability to withstand tropical and humid conditions. Chery says these tests will also prove the car’s ability to adapt to local environments. Moving forward, future challenges will be held in South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico, with each challenge tailored to their respective environments.
Although not yet available in Malaysia, a CSH model from Chery may soon be on the way, as suggested by the recent preview of the Tiggo 7 CSH PHEV at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025.
The plug-in hybrid variant of the compact SUV features an 18.3 kWh battery that delivers up to 95 km of electric-only range, and can be charged from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes. Paired with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, the system produces a combined output of 347 hp and 525 Nm, with a claimed total range of 1,200 km.
READ MORE: Chery Tiggo 7 CSH PHEV previewed in Malaysia – Jaecoo J7 PHEV’s powertrain, H2 2025 launch
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