ANCAP safety ratings for Chinese electric vehicles

Under the 2026–2028 ANCAP assessment criteria, Chinese-manufactured electric and hybrid vehicles have demonstrated varying levels of safety performance in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The GAC Aion UT electric hatchback achieved a maximum five-star rating, showing strong performance in crash protection and collision avoidance. Specifically, the model recorded a 90 per cent score in crash protection, aided by a center airbag, and performed well in autonomous emergency braking scenarios involving pedestrians and cyclists. However, some deductions were noted regarding chest protection for small female drivers and certain aspects of pedestrian head protection.

Other models showed mixed results. The Xpeng X9 MPV also earned a five-star rating, receiving top scores for occupant protection and post-crash safety. Conversely, the BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid received a three-star rating. While it performed adequately in crash protection and post-crash scenarios, it showed significant limitations in safe driving and crash avoidance, including inconsistent autonomous emergency braking and a driver monitoring system that failed to detect phone use or driver unresponsiveness.