ANCAP has awarded five-star safety ratings to three China-made electrified vehicles assessed for the Australian market: the GAC Aion UT, BYD M9 and XPeng X9. The ratings came with a caveat for the Aion UT and X9, as the safety organisation raised concerns about drivers needing to use touchscreens for some frequently used functions.
The electric Aion UT recorded 68 per cent for Safe Driving, 74 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 90 per cent for Crash Protection and 88 per cent for Post Crash. ANCAP highlighted its side-impact performance, including maximum marks for driver protection. It also identified limitations in the adaptive cruise control system, which does not adjust for roundabouts and intersections.
BYD’s plug-in hybrid M9 people mover scored 75 per cent for Safe Driving, 78 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 89 per cent for Crash Protection and a perfect 100 per cent for Post Crash. ANCAP noted the effectiveness of its post-collision provisions, including eCall and multi-collision braking.
The electric XPeng X9 received 56 per cent for Safe Driving, 82 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 91 per cent for Crash Protection and 91 per cent for Post Crash. Its crash-test results were strong across frontal, side and rear impacts. ANCAP said screen-based controls could distract drivers and called for everyday functions to be easier to operate without looking away from the road.