China's BYD wins five-star European safety rating for electric SUV
12/10/2022 11:44
By Nick Carey
LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - BYD 002594.SZ on Wednesday
received a coveted five-star Euro NCAP safety rating for its
electric ATTO 3 crossover SUV, the latest Chinese carmaker to
receive top marks as it seeks to gain a foothold in Europe's
competitive car market.
Two other Chinese-made cars - the eCitroënC5 X,
built by a joint venture between Stellantis STLA.MI and
Dongfeng 0489.HK and the Mobilize Limo, an electric sedan
made by Renault RENA.PA together with Jiangling Motors
000550.SZ - received four-star ratings.
Ratings from the European New Car Assessment Programme
(NCAP) are not binding, as it does not certify vehicles for road
use. But European consumers pay attention to Euro NCAP's safety
tests and carmakers aggressively market good ratings.
Last month Chinee rival Great Wall Motor 601633.SS
received five-star ratings for its WEY brand Coffee 01 hybrid
SUV and its ORA brand Funky Cat electric sedan.
Just this week BYD launched the ATTO 3 in India, which sells
in China as the Yuan Plus.
Last week, German car rental company Sixt SIXG.DE said it
has committed to buying around 100,000 electric vehicles from
China's BYD in the coming years.
Among the other cars receiving a five-star rating on
Wednesday was Mercedes-Benz's MBGn.DE EQE electric sedan.
The vehicle's driver assistance system - including one that
moves the car to the slowest lane on a highway and brings it to
a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive - made it the
highest-scoring car so far for assisted-driving functions, Euro
NCAP said.
(Reporting by Nick Carey, Editing by Louise Heavens)
((nick.carey@thomsonreuters.com; +44 7385 414 954;))