The latest Euro NCAP safety tests highlight a growing shift in the European car market, with three relatively new Chinese electric vehicles achieving the maximum five-star safety rating under the tougher 2026 assessment protocols.
The AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05 all delivered strong results across crash protection, crash avoidance and post-crash safety. Meanwhile, the CUPRA Raval achieved five stars when equipped with its optional Safety Pack, but received four stars with its standard safety equipment.
The latest results underline how quickly Chinese EV brands are improving their safety credentials as they expand across Europe.
Euro NCAP’s latest assessment involved extensive crash testing and on-road evaluations designed to measure how effectively new vehicles protect occupants and prevent accidents.
While brands such as AION, GEELY and Leapmotor may be less familiar to European buyers than Volkswagen, Renault or BMW, their latest models are demonstrating that Chinese EVs can compete strongly on safety.
Chinese vehicles accounted for around 7% of new-car sales in the European Union and almost 10% of UK new-car sales in 2025. Euro NCAP has also dramatically increased the number of Chinese models it assesses, reflecting their growing presence in the European market.
The latest tests provide another indication that safety is becoming a key area of competition between established European manufacturers and newer Chinese EV brands.
AION UT Earns Five-Star Euro NCAP Rating
The AION UT is a compact electric family hatchback positioned against models such as the Renault 4 and Volkswagen ID. Polo.
It achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with particularly strong results in occupant protection.
AION UT Euro NCAP scores:
– Safe Driving: 66%
– Crash Avoidance: 74%
– Crash Protection: 91%
– Post-Crash Safety: 88%
The UT performed well across the four areas evaluated by Euro NCAP and comes with a comprehensive collection of crash-avoidance technologies.
However, Euro NCAP identified several areas for improvement. The car relies heavily on its central touchscreen for important driving functions, while its road-based speed-limit recognition system achieved only 68% accuracy in testing.
The AION UT also lacks a child-presence detection system capable of warning if a child is accidentally left inside the vehicle.
Its frontal monitoring system was another weak point, particularly when dealing with cars and motorcycles crossing the vehicle’s path at junctions.
Despite these shortcomings, a 91% crash-protection score and strong post-crash performance helped the AION UT secure a five-star overall rating.
GEELY E2 Scores Five Stars
The GEELY E2, also known as the EX2 in some markets, is one of the most significant models in the latest results. The small electric hatchback was China’s best-selling car last year and now has a five-star Euro NCAP rating to add to its credentials.
GEELY E2 Euro NCAP scores:
– Safe Driving: 79%
– Crash Avoidance: 72%
– Crash Protection: 86%
– Post-Crash Safety: 95%
The E2 made particularly good use of physical controls for essential driving functions and infotainment, an area where several modern vehicles have attracted criticism for moving too many functions onto touchscreens.
Its standard direct Child Presence Detection system also helped boost its safety score.
The automatic emergency braking system was less consistent. Euro NCAP found that it performed strongly in some scenarios but lost significant points in others.
The E2 also suffered a weakness in a front-offset crash test, where protection for the driver’s legs was not sufficient. Child protection testing revealed that the seatbelt for the 10-year-old dummy partially slipped from the shoulder.
Nevertheless, its overall performance was strong enough for a five-star rating, including an impressive 95% post-crash safety score.
Leapmotor B05 Delivers Strong Crash Protection
The Leapmotor B05 is aimed directly at established European family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Megane.
It also earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating, with one of the strongest crash-protection performances among the four vehicles tested.
Leapmotor B05 Euro NCAP scores:
– Safe Driving: 66%
– Crash Avoidance: 77%
– Crash Protection: 92%
– Post-Crash Safety: 89%
The B05’s automatic emergency braking system performed particularly well in high-speed and junction scenarios. Its lane-departure prevention system also delivered an almost perfect result.
Crash testing was another major strength. The B05 achieved maximum points in both the side-barrier and side-pole impact tests, while its centre airbag provided full protection against potentially dangerous head-to-head contact between occupants.
The model also achieved 100% scores for pelvis and femur protection for vulnerable road users.
There are still some areas where Leapmotor could improve. The B05 has child-presence detection but lacks an adaptive restraint system designed to accommodate occupants of different sizes. Euro NCAP also noted that the vehicle cannot identify when a front passenger is sitting in an unsafe position, such as with their feet on the dashboard.
As with the AION UT, Euro NCAP suggested that greater use of physical switches could improve the usability of comfort and infotainment functions.
What the Latest Euro NCAP Results Mean for EV Buyers
The latest tests demonstrate how rapidly the safety performance of Chinese electric cars is improving.
The AION UT, GEELY E2 and Leapmotor B05 all achieved five stars despite coming from brands that have only recently started building significant recognition in Europe. Their results show that Chinese EV manufacturers are no longer competing purely on price, range or equipment.
Safety is becoming another major battleground.
At the same time, the CUPRA Raval’s result shows why consumers should look beyond the headline star rating. Standard equipment matters. A five-star rating may depend on an optional safety package, and the difference between standard and optional equipment can be significant when comparing vehicles.
For anyone shopping for a new electric car, Euro NCAP’s detailed scores offer a useful way to compare models beyond marketing claims. Looking at individual crash-protection, crash-avoidance and post-crash results can reveal strengths and weaknesses that a simple star rating does not show.
Chinese EV Safety Is Becoming a Serious Competitive Advantage
The latest Euro NCAP results represent another step in the rapid expansion of Chinese electric vehicles in Europe.
Three new Chinese EVs achieving five stars in the latest testing cycle is significant, particularly as Euro NCAP’s protocols become increasingly demanding. Their strong crash-protection and accident-avoidance results suggest that established European, Japanese and Korean automakers face increasingly capable competition.
For European EV buyers, the growing number of highly rated Chinese models means there are now more options to consider when safety is a priority.
And with Euro NCAP continuing to assess more Chinese vehicles, the safety gap between newer Chinese brands and established automakers could become increasingly difficult to define.
