Second KGM model caught with low airbag count

KGM Australia is facing further scrutiny over incorrectly advertised safety equipment after ANCAP Safety confirmed the Torres EVX electric SUV was supplied to Australian and New Zealand customers without a centre airbag promoted as standard.

The latest consumer alert comes just days after the independent safety authority revealed Australian market KGM Musso EV utes were missing two airbags listed in the model’s published specifications.

ANCAP Safety said the related Torres EVX had been advertised as having eight airbags, including a front-centre or “front row far-side” airbag, but vehicles delivered to customers are fitted with only seven.

Approximately 100 Torres EVXs are potentially affected across Australia and New Zealand, including about 33 recorded in Australian VFACTS data to the end of July and 70 sold in New Zealand.

KGM Australia says 20 examples have actually been delivered to Australian customers.

The battery-electric Torres EVX has been sold in Australia since October 2025, while New Zealand sales commenced in March 2024 and ended in March last year.

ANCAP Safety said customers who have purchased a Torres EVX should be aware that the vehicle’s safety specification differs from that advertised and warned that the absence of the centre airbag “may have an effect on occupant safety in side impact crashes”.

A centre airbag is generally mounted on the inboard side of the driver’s seat and is designed to reduce the risk of the driver and front passenger striking each other during a side-impact collision.

ANCAP Safety has called on KGM to make a production change to add the missing airbag.

However, KGM Australia has confirmed the centre airbag cannot be retrofitted to existing Torres EVXs and has not committed to fitting one to future production.

“Nothing has been confirmed to include the centre airbag at this stage, but we will continue to review opportunities to enhance vehicle specifications and introduce ongoing product improvements,” a KGM Australia spokesperson said.

KGM Australia maintains the issue relates to incorrect product information rather than a change to the vehicle itself, saying the Torres EVX has always been manufactured with seven airbags.

“Following the Musso EV specification discrepancy, KGM Australia has undertaken a broader review of its published product information,” added the spokesperson.

“As part of that review, we identified a similar administrative error in some MY26 Torres EVX product information, which incorrectly stated the vehicle was equipped with eight airbags. The correct specification is seven airbags with no front centre airbag.

“The Torres EVX has always been manufactured with seven airbags, so there has been no change to the vehicle itself, and it remains compliant with applicable Australian vehicle approval requirements.

“The affected product information has been corrected, and our dealer network has been advised.”

The petrol and hybrid Torres variants are unaffected, with ANCAP Safety confirming locally available examples are fitted with both centre and knee airbags as advertised.

KGM said its broader review of Australian product information is now complete and no further specification discrepancies have been identified among models currently on sale.

The Torres EVX issue follows ANCAP Safety’s August 21 consumer alert concerning the Musso EV, which GoAuto reported was being supplied to Australian customers with six airbags despite being advertised with eight.

ANCAP Safety discovered the discrepancy after independently acquiring Musso EVs for crash testing and finding the electric dual-cab was not equipped with either the advertised front-centre airbag or driver’s knee airbag.

As previously reported, all Australian-delivered Musso EVs since its November 2025 launch have been supplied in the six-airbag configuration, with around 306 examples recorded as sold to the end of July.

KGM subsequently acknowledged that its published specifications were incorrect, describing the discrepancy as an “unintentional administrative error”.

“Some materials incorrectly described the vehicle as being equipped with eight airbags, including a driver SRS knee airbag and front seat centre airbag,” said KGM Australia.

“The correct Australian specification is six airbags. The vehicle has always been manufactured in this six-airbag configuration.”

ANCAP Safety warned that the absence of those airbags could affect occupant protection in both frontal and side-impact crashes and encouraged KGM to introduce a production change incorporating both safety features.

The Torres EVX discovery means two of KGM’s Australian-market electric models have now been found with fewer airbags than their advertised specifications.

The second discrepancy also raises questions beyond ANCAP Safety’s crash testing...

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has noted that vehicle manufacturers must comply with Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct and false or misleading representations.

The ACCC told Australian publication Carsales it works closely with the Department of Infrastructure on automotive matters because the department is responsible for vehicle safety and compliance with the Australian Design Rules (ADRs).

However, the ACCC did not comment specifically on KGM, and it remains unclear whether either agency will investigate the incorrect specifications or take regulatory action.

Importantly, KGM maintains both vehicles comply with their Australian vehicle approval requirements despite not carrying the airbags originally advertised.

The distinction means the issue is not necessarily that the vehicles fail to meet mandatory Australian safety standards, but that customers were sold vehicles with safety specifications different from those represented in KGM’s marketing material.

KGM says dealers have been instructed to refer requests from affected Torres EVX owners seeking a remedy or other assistance directly to KGM Australia.

“Our dealers have been requested to refer any customer requests for a remedy or other assistance to KGM Australia for review,” the company said.

“KGM Australia is reviewing the matter and that further information will be provided as soon as possible.”

ANCAP Safety is similarly advising existing Torres EVX owners with concerns to contact KGM or their local dealer, while prospective new or used buyers are being urged to take the vehicle’s actual seven-airbag specification into account.

Neither the Torres EVX nor Musso EV currently carries an ANCAP safety rating.