Chinese EVs have come a long way when it comes to safety. Many models sold in Europe and the UK have now received five-star ratings from Euro NCAP, showing how much Chinese manufacturers have improved compared with their earlier reputation.
Euro NCAP has also made its testing requirements tougher in recent years, with more focus on active safety systems, driver assistance technology and the way controls are designed. Despite the tougher tests, several Chinese EVs have continued to achieve five-star ratings.
Strong Results From Newer Models
Among the newer Chinese EVs tested under the latest protocols are the Geely E2, also known as the EX2, and the GAC Aion UT.
The Geely E2 received a five-star rating and recorded 79% in the Safe Driving category. Euro NCAP highlighted its balance between digital features and physical controls.
The GAC Aion UT also received five stars, with a 91% score for Crash Protection. It also performed well in crash-avoidance and driver assistance tests.
Nio and Other Premium Models
Nio has also recorded some strong results in Euro NCAP testing. The compact Nio Firefly achieved a 96% occupant protection score, putting it among the higher-scoring models tested by Euro NCAP.
The Nio ET5 has an earlier achievement as well, having been named the overall safest vehicle tested by Euro NCAP in 2023.
The Polestar 3, which comes from Geely-owned Polestar, was named Best in Class for Executive Cars and recorded a particularly strong child occupant protection result.
Hongqi has also performed well with its electric SUVs. Both the E-HS9 and E-HS7 have received five-star Euro NCAP ratings.
BYD, MG and XPeng
BYD has built up a number of five-star-rated models in Europe, including the Seal, Sealion 7, Dolphin, Atto 3 and Tang.
The BYD Seal recorded an 89% score for Adult Occupant Protection, while the Sealion 7 achieved 93% for Child Occupant Protection. BYD has also highlighted its Blade Battery technology as part of its approach to vehicle safety.
MG has several five-star models as well, including the MG4 EV, MG S5 EV and MG ZS EV. The MG S5 EV recorded 90% for Adult Occupant Protection.
XPeng has also received five-star ratings for models such as the G6 and G9.
These results show that Chinese EV manufacturers are now competing more closely with established brands when it comes to European safety testing. However, individual scores vary between models, so a five-star rating does not mean every vehicle performs exactly the same way in every area.
