Chery Australia has initiated a program to adjust the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) of its vehicles, focusing particularly on the Omoda 5 which stirred safety concerns upon its release last year, reports auto news portal Go Auto.

This comes after the initial ADAS settings on early Omoda 5 models received criticism for being overly aggressive, with features like lane-keep assist forcefully correcting steering even when drivers made deliberate maneuvers to avoid obstacles.

Additionally, there were concerns about the driver attention monitoring system, which was overly sensitive and would issue alarms and poorly translated messages if drivers glanced away from the road.

The heightened sensitivity of the ADAS led to widespread criticism and even raised suspicions that Chery's ADAS calibrations were tailored more for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ratings than for genuine collision prevention.

Also read: Watch: From 2-star to 5-star ANCAP safety rating, how Chery became one of the safest brands in Australia

Responding to feedback, Chery Australia's managing director, Lucas Harris, announced adjustments to the ADAS settings. Two engineers from Chery's headquarters had been in Australia to recalibrate the systems to better suit local driving conditions and preferences.

Harris emphasized the importance of real-world validation, aiming to improve driving dynamics across Chery's model range. While the Omoda 5 had already received a five-star ANCAP rating, Chery sought to enhance its ADAS tuning based on local feedback.

The recalibration initiative extends beyond the Omoda 5, with a focus on future Chery models as well. Harris highlighted the rigorous testing and validation process, which includes active safety systems and adaptability to varied local conditions.

It remains to be seen if this new step will be echoed across Chery's presence in markets around the globe. At least in Malaysia – where Chery says the systems have been adapted to local conditions – there's still glaring issues in how it reads signages and other cars in front (as noted in our Omoda 5 review), so an update would fare the car well.       

Also read: Review: Chery Omoda 5 in Malaysia - Bang-for-buck hero does its best to exorcise ghosts of Chery's past