Autobayng News Team
- A compact Chinese electric hatchback has the highest occupant safety score in Euro NCAP history.
- It adds to the growing list of very safe Chinese cars available in Europe.
- All four Chinese cars recently tested by Euro NCAP got the maximum five-star rating, while European cars from BMW or VW got four stars.
Chinese cars were once notorious for their terrible safety ratings. But things have changed.
Taking a quick glance over the Euro NCAP rankings will bring you to a potentially startling conclusion: most of the safest cars available today in Europe come from Chinese manufacturers. The organization recently posted the results from a fresh batch of testing, which included 23 new cars, and the safest was a compact electric hatchback from China.
The Leapmotor B10, the latest EV from the Stellantis-backed Chinese automaker that also makes the tiny T03, scored a very impressive 93% for both adult and child protection and 85% in the safety assist category, being awarded the full five-star rating.
The batch also included the Volvo EX90, but that was ranked lower than the B10, which shows how things have changed on the automotive safety front and just how car Chinese carmakers have come.
The B10 is followed in the recent test by the gas-powered Mercedes-Benz CLE and another Chinese car, the Hongqi EHS7, a large midsize electric crossover that’s almost the size of a BMW iX. Next comes the EX90, followed by the BYD Seal 6, and the revised Tesla Model Y. Out of the 23 cars that were recently tested, four were Chinese and all got the maximum safety rating.
The overall ranking still has the China-made Tesla Model 3 at the top, even though it has a lower occupant protection score of 90%, but it makes up in the other categories. The surprise second-place entrant is Nio’s Firefly, with its 96% occupant protection score, which is the highest Euro NCAP has ever recorded. It’s followed by the Tesla Model Y, the Smart #5 and BYD Seal 6.
Photo by: Euro NCAP
The Chinese cars we get here in Europe aren’t identical to the same models sold on their home market. They feature numerous modifications to make them comply with European regulations, so it’s likely only these Euro-spec cars that excel in the safety department. 2025 BYD Seal 3.8S Photo by: Andrei Nedelea
I’ve talked this over with several representatives of Chinese carmakers present here in Europe. They have confirmed the cars we get here are not the same as in China, and it’s not only tariffs that are driving up their prices—they typically feature a raft of improvements.
“It is gratifying to see carmakers pushing for all-around excellence where safety is concerned,” said Aled Williams, the program director for Euro NCAP. “It may sound like a cliché to say there is no such thing as a bad car—because there still is—but certainly, there are more safe cars than ever before.”
So the next time you hear someone claiming Chinese cars are still bad, poorly made, and a potential health hazard, just show them the Euro NCAP rankings. This is all the proof you need that these cars have substance and can even be more than a match for Western rivals.
We may not like to admit it, but the West seems to be playing catch-up to China not only for EV tech (and battery recycling), but also in safety. More On This We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Insideevs.com? – The InsideEVs team
