- Chinese language-made automobiles, and EVs specifically, dominate this yr’s European security charts.
- Euro NCAP, the impartial physique that crashes automobiles to learn how secure they’re, has given 18 five-star awards thus far this yr.
- Most of them are Chinese language-made EVs.
Chinese language automobiles was identified for being ripoffs of Western automobiles. Lots of them have been janky, with designs that appeared like they have been phoned in, and powertrains that had a behavior of not working. Security was not on the priorities listing, both, however that has modified dramatically in the previous few years.
We’ve been saying for some time right here on InsideEVs that the Chinese language automotive business is manner forward of the USA. And now, trying on the newest crash take a look at outcomes from Europe, it’s clearer than ever that Chinese language firms are right here to disrupt the previous manner of doing enterprise.

This was a working Voyah Braveness EV. Whilst you might need by no means heard of it, it bought 5 stars from Euro NCAP.
Picture by: Euro NCAP
5 stars. That’s what most automakers on the market are aiming for when bringing a brand new automotive to the market. Clients who’re involved about their security are additionally on the lookout for the identical factor. Euro NCAP’s crash take a look at security ranking, together with its world equivalents akin to Latin NCAP and ANCAP, is the gold customary within the business, and it’s one that may make or break an up-and-coming automaker’s future. The identical goes for the American IIHS and NHTSA testing.
So right here comes the fact test. Out of the 28 automobiles examined by Euro ncap this yr, 18 bought the extremely coveted five-star ranking, and 13 of them are made in China. Furthermore, out of the five-star fashions, 11 are Chinese language-made EVs.
Certain, a few of the fashions on this listing are the merchandise of European or American firms, such because the Tesla Mannequin 3, Mini Cooper eand Polestar 3however there’s no denying that the engineering that went into them had an excessive amount of enter from China. Furthermore, let’s not overlook {that a} honest few Chinese language-based automakers additionally made the minimize, together with ZeekrVoyah, GeelyCherry, Hongqi and Jaecoo. MG, which is British at coronary heart however primarily based in China, additionally has a five-star EV.
Mannequin | Powertrain sort | Nation of origin (for the European market) |
Tesla Mannequin 3 | EV |
China |
Lynk & Co 02 | EV | China |
Polestar 3 | EV | China |
ZEEKR 7X | EV | China |
Audi A6 e-tron | EV | Germany |
Voyah Braveness | EV | China |
Polestar 4 | EV | China |
Geely EX5 | EV | China |
Terramar Cupra | Gasoline, PHEV | Hungary |
Omoda 9 | PHEV | China |
Mini Cooper e | EV | China |
World Sealion 7 | EV |
China |
Volkswagen Tayron | Gasoline, Diesel, PHEV | Germany |
MG MGS5 EV | EV |
China |
Audi Q5 | Gasoline, Diesel, PHEV | Mexico |
Hongqi E-HS9 | EV | China |
Kia EV (with non-obligatory security pack) | EV | South Korea |
Jaecoo 7 PHEV | PHEV | China |
A few of you would possibly keep in mind an previous episode of High Gear the place two of the hosts went to China to check the nation’s automobiles. Suffice it to say, it was something however spectacular. Nevertheless, in that section, which aired greater than a decade in the past, the hosts agree on the truth that “all people shall be driving Chinese language automobiles,” seeing the business’s charge of progress.
So, right here we at the moment are. China went from the laughingstock of the automotive business to a frontrunner in EV powertrains, in-car infotainment programs, and now security scores. This leaves Western automakers to play catch-up with a rustic they as soon as dominated.