Somewhere, a guy in Pit Vipers is recording a Facebook video from the front seat of his pickup claiming that Chinese EVs aren’t just inferior to American V8 iron – they’re unsafe, too. Unfortunately for him, the latest EVs from GAC, Geely, and Leapmotor just aced the brutally demanding Euro NCAP safety tests.
While Tesla was giving its truest believers a sneak peek at its new Cybercab on 03SEP, the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) was releasing its latest safety evaluation results, and three new models from China have achieved the group’s maximum five-star safety rating. Oh– I almost forgot: the Euro NCAP is significantly stricter than the US’ National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests, that allow automakers to self-certify their vehicle’s compliance.
“The United States was the first country in the world to make vehicle crash test results and comprehensive safety ratings more accessible to consumers, making it easier to buy new cars with the best protection possible and providing the auto industry with a powerful incentive to manufacture better automobiles,” Tanya Mohn wrote for Forbes, back in 2019. “But the once groundbreaking program is now out of date and has not kept pace with safety innovations and advances, and other countries, including Japan and many in Europe, have far surpassed the US, motor vehicle safety experts say.”
In the seven years since, the situation hasn’t gotten much better. “EU and US standards are not equivalent,” wrote Antonio Avenoso for Financial Times, last March. “During negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal a decade ago, a study commissioned by the car industry found that EU models were, on average, 33% safer in terms of risk of a serious injury in common front-side crashes.”
All of which is to say: this 5-star NCAP thing is a really big deal.
Looking good, staying safe
The three newest Chinese EVs to earn the top NCAP score are the Aion UT, by GAC, the E2, by Volvo parent company Geely, and Stellantis’ Leapmotor B05 (which, really, should already be sold in North America as a Dodge Neon).
“Today’s results clearly demonstrate that Chinese carmakers are still working hard to match the high standards expected by European consumers,” said Dr. Aled Williams, Programme Director at Euro NCAP. “By actively embracing Euro NCAP’s rigorous targets particularly this year, carmakers are showing they want to deliver safer vehicles for everyone on Europe’s roads.”
You can read a summary of NCAP’s positive findings on each of these models below (click here for the full report, good and bad), then let us know what you think of these cars, and whether these scores changed your opinion of them, in the comments.
GAC AION UT | ★★★★★
Safe Driving: 66% – Crash Avoidance: 74% – Crash Protection: 91% – Post Crash Safety: 88%
The AION UT is an electric family hatchback which competes with the likes of the Mini Aceman, Renault 4 and Volkswagen ID. Polo. This Chinese brand is still in its infancy, yet the new model achieves a five-star safety rating, showing good performances in all four stages of safety … AION UT has all the latest crash avoidance systems – and, except for the frontal monitoring in relation to a car and motorcyclist crossing a junction, these systems perform well across all test scenarios. With a Crash Protection score of 91 per cent and good Post-Crash Safety performance, it proves to be a strong all-rounder.
GEELY E2 | ★★★★★
Safe Driving: 79% – Crash Avoidance: 72% – Crash Protection: 86% – Post Crash Safety: 95%
One of China’s better-known brands, GEELY has scored a home hit with its E2 (also called EX2 in some markets) after it was the China’s best-selling car last year. During its assessment, the small electric hatchback demonstrated high-level protection across the board, earning a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Good use is made of physical controls for key driving controls commands and for the car’s infotainment system with a total score of 80%. Standard direct Child Presence Detection (CPD) earned the E2 extra marks.
LEAPMOTOR B05 | ★★★★★
Safe Driving: 66% – Crash Avoidance: 77% – Crash Protection: 92% – Post Crash Safety: 89%
Taking on some of Europe’s best-known family hatchbacks, including the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf, the Leapmotor B05 is a relatively new electric Chinese car that scores well across all testing disciplines, particularly Crash Protection, to secure a five-star rating … the car’s AEB performance was exceptional in high-speed and junction scenarios, complemented by a near-perfect lane departure prevention system. In crash testing, the B05 scored maximum points in both side barrier and side pole impacts, with its centre airbag ensuring full protection against occupant head contact.Pelvis and femur protection for vulnerable road users scored 100%.
SOURCES: NCAP, via CarNewsChina; Stellantis.
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