Euro NCAP has awarded the BYD Shark its maximum five-star safety rating after crash tests conducted at the ADAC laboratory in Germany. The pickup scored 82% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child protection, 74% for vulnerable road users and 87% for safety-assistance systems under the organization’s current protocol.
Euro NCAP reported one concern in the side-impact testing: after a barrier test, inspectors found that the side curtain airbag had not deployed properly. The test-dummy readings were unaffected, but the issue led to penalties in both side-impact assessments. In the more severe pole test, protection for all critical body areas was rated at least adequate. BYD is developing an updated airbag cover to address the problem.
The Shark’s result adds to a small set of Euro NCAP pickup evaluations. The organization says it has tested just eight pickups in its 30-year history, during which it has published more than 2,200 crash-test results. The previous pickup assessments came two years ago, when the Maxus eTerron 9 and MG P9 EV each received five stars; Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok II and Isuzu D-Max also earned five stars in 2022. The Toyota Hilux has not been tested by Euro NCAP.
The rating should not be treated as a direct assessment of the Shark sold in Latin America. The European version has the eCall emergency-assistance system, which is unavailable in that region and contributed to the Euro NCAP score. Australia’s ANCAP had already awarded the Shark five stars in 2025, but a region-specific independent test would be needed to establish the Latin American model’s performance.