The agency, which runs the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, said the Tiggo's passenger compartment "lost structural integrity" and that "protection from serious chest, leg and foot injury was poor for the driver."

The agency also noted that it gave the Tiggo a zero rating in the pedestrian test because the vehicle, which is called the J11 in Australia, "is not friendly to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users."

ANCAP's crash test program is supported by the governments of Australian and New Zealand and automobile clubs in the two countries.

In March, Chery began exporting the J11 and A1 compact car to Australia, and added the A3 model to its lineup in the summer. At the time, the automaker said it aimed to sell 5,000 cars in Australia this year.

Chery, which is based in the east China city of Wuhu, is the third Chinese automaker to export vehicles to Australia. In 2009, Great Wall Motor Co. began exporting pickups and SUVs to Australia.

And in January, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group shipped an initial batch of 100 MK GL compact sedans to a dealership in Perth.