The next Chinese car brand to launch in Australia says it will arrive this year with a new model and the promise of a five-star safety rating. However, the vehicle is yet to be crash-tested by the independent authority.
The Australian distributor for Chinese car brand BYD – one of the largest automotive companies in China and among the biggest sellers of electric cars globally – says it is on track to launch a new electric car locally by the end of this year.
As reported previously, the upcoming BYD Atto 3 electric hatchback will cost from $44,990 drive-away when it arrives in the second half of 2022 and promises a maximum driving range of 480km between recharges. The company says it is already holding approximately 5000 orders.
While the vehicle is expected to pass routine regulatory safety requirements before it can go on sale locally, it is yet to be assessed by the independent safety authority ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), which sets a higher safety bar.
Representatives for BYD in Australia say the BYD Atto 3 will launch locally with a five-star safety score.
However, it may initially go on sale “un-rated” until ANCAP completes a series of crash tests and collision-avoidance assessments.
Some car companies complete ANCAP crash tests before a newly introduced vehicle arrives in local showrooms, so they can advertise a five-star score from day one.
And some car companies wait several months after a newly-introduced car has gone on sale locally – due to production or development delays – before a vehicle is submitted to ANCAP tests and issued with a star rating.
During this interim period a vehicle is deemed “unrated” until it has been assessed by ANCAP – regardless of claims made by vehicle manufacturers.
In a statement to Drive, ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg said: “Until [we] independently test and assess specific models or variants, and officially publish a rating, it is not possible for a vehicle manufacturer or distributor to claim that a particular star rating will be awarded.”
To be awarded a five-star safety rating, new vehicles must undergo a series of crash tests – and crash avoidance assessments – and perform to certain standards.
A vehicle’s overall safety rating is based on the weakest result in any of the ANCAP crash tests and collision avoidance assessments.
Drive has been told BYD representatives have had preliminary discussions with ANCAP, however a crash test schedule for the vehicle is yet to be established.
Given the time required to complete a series of crash tests – and collision-avoidance assessments – it could be several months before ANCAP is able to issue a safety score for the BYD Atto 3.
Despite this timeline, the BYD Australia distributor remains confident the BYD Atto 3 will launch with a five-star safety rating.
It is unclear if this means the BYD Atto 3 could be delayed until such tests are completed – or if the tests can somehow be fast-tracked.
In a statement to Drive, BYD Australia representative Luke Todd said: “Our process is commercial in confidence, but we will definitely be launching the Atto 3 with a five-star ANCAP rating.”
ANCAP allocates star-rating safety scores based on a broad range of crash tests – including full-width frontal, side impact, and oblique pole destructive tests – and controlled testing of a vehicle’s advanced crash-avoidance features.
A five-star ANCAP score is considered the highest safety endorsement in the country, and is widely advertised by car companies.
Many business and government fleets require a five-star safety rating for employee vehicles.
Meantime, European scores based on Euro NCAP tests are often adopted by ANCAP – as the two independent agencies have aligned their testing requirements.
However, the BYD Atto 3 is also yet to be assessed in Europe.
According to the EV Direct website that outlines key details for the BYD Atto 3, the vehicle comes with a long list of safety features including seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, autonomous emergency braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, and rear cross-traffic alert.
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