I Thought Chinese EVs Like the BYD Atto 3 Were Ready for Prime Time, Then I Saw Airbags Not Deploying in Crash Clips, and Read about Safety Test Results

We’ve all seen the viral videos of Chinese electric vehicles spontaneously bursting into flames engulfing entire apartment buildings, of Chinese EVs in accidents where the airbags don’t deploy, and footage of drivers narrowly escaping vehicles seconds before an explosion. To be fair, these are mostly EVs sold strictly in China, but we are starting to see social media posts from other countries.

A recent Reddit post by Few-Cap5483 describes a BYD Seal that caught fire in a Singapore dealer showroom.

“A brand new BYD Seal series electric car started to smoke in the early morning, so the Civil Defense Force deployed water guns and fire extinguishers to cool it down. The incident took place at 02:00 am on Friday, July 11th at the BYD brand’s agency dealership at Teban Gardens, Singapore. It is understood that the was stationary at the time.”

Another Reddit post describes how a BYD Seal caught fire in West Jakarta. The Head of the Operations, was quoted saying: 

«The car that had been unused in the garage for three days suddenly started emitting smoke. It’s suspected to be due to an electrical phenomenon in the electric car’s battery.»

There are allegations, that in China’s mad rush to dominate the global EV market, corners have been cut. Reports have surfaced regarding substandard battery manufacturing, flawed safety components, and processes that prioritize quantity over quality. Major Chinese EV brands such as BYD and NIO have issued recalls, software updates, and safety changes. Smaller manufacturers have been accused of using inferior components, which has deepened consumer uncertainty.

There are approximately 100 electric vehicle manufacturers in China today. This is a significant decrease from an estimated 500 in 2019, due to intense competition and consolidation. The three largest EV manufacturers in China are BYD, SAIC Motor, and GAC Group. Earlier this year, BYD (Build Your Dreams) surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles. Most of these automakers serve the massive Chinese domestic market with only about 9% shipping abroad according to FinanceAsia.

Vehicle Safety Standards

Chinese electric vehicles aren’t yet sold in the U.S. so we don’t have crash test data from American agencies. For vehicles to be sold in the U.S., they must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performs vehicle tests to ensure they meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, often using its in-house test center and contracting with independent laboratories through. While manufacturers are responsible for self-certification, NHTSA also conducts its own tests and investigations to ensure compliance and address safety defects.

U.S. vehicle safety standards require a wide range of tests, including crashworthiness (like frontal, side, and rear impacts, and roof crush), occupant protection (airbags, seatbelts, headrests), and specific vehicle systems such as brakes, lighting, and electronic stability control.

Chinese electric vehicles are sold in Europe, and European safety agencies have been testing them. The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is the primary agency that performs independent vehicle safety testing in Europe. It conducts crash and crash avoidance tests on new cars and provides star ratings based on performance in areas like adult occupant protection, child protection, and pedestrian protection.

Where Chinese EVs Stand in Euro NCAP Today

Several years ago, Chinese EVs lagged their American and European counterparts in Euro NCAP crash testing. Lately, Chinese EVs seem to be closing the gap in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, with several recent models earning five stars. However, a spread appears to remain in advanced driver-assistance (ADAS), where some systems still trail leaders in driver monitoring and safety backup. Continuous software updates are narrowing that gap, which means shoppers should review both the crash rating and the latest ADAS grading before deciding.

To get into some specifics about leading Chinses EVs in Europe, over the last two years, several Chinese EVs have scored strongly in Euro NCAP’s core crash testing. BYD’s Sealion 7 and compact Dolphin Surf earned five stars with very high adult and child protection and maximum points in the side barrier assessment. MG’s new MGS6 EV also landed five stars with solid frontal and side impact results. Note that the MG MGS6 EV is primarily manufactured in China by SAIC Motor, the brand’s parent company.

Euro NCAP evaluates crash protection separately from its ADAS gradings. The BYD Atto 3 illustrates the gap that can appear. Its crash safety had been strong in earlier testing, yet the 2024 Assisted Driving evaluation issued a not recommended grade due to weak safety backup and driver monitoring behavior. BYD responded with software updates and a new system for 2025 model year cars that Euro NCAP is now evaluating. 

The BYD Atto 3 is a five-door compact electric SUV, sold in China as the Yuan Plus and exported to Europe, the UK, Australia, and India. It launched in China in February 2022 and has since become BYD’s global spearhead model. Typical pricing is around the mid to high £30,000s in the UK, while recent China pricing starts near $15,940 USD, which shows a wide market spread. The Atto 3 uses BYD’s LFP Blade battery and offers family friendly space, decent range, and strong crash test results for its class. Downsides include slower DC charging than some rivals and earlier concerns about its assisted driving system, which Euro NCAP rated not recommended in 2024.

The BYD Sealion 7 and Dolphin Surf pairs strong crash protection with a competitive Safety Assist profile which reflects the broader improvement of Chinese brands that are targeting Europe. MG’s MGS6 EV delivers robust structural performance and respectable Safety Assist, though it trails top European and Tesla benchmarks in the most demanding driver monitoring and lane support edge cases. 

A lingering concern seems to be in the budget category. For example, the Dacia Spring, a budget EV built in China for Renault, remains a reminder that cost focused designs can underperform. Its one-star rating is referenced as a low watermark.

A DNA of Ultracheap 

When it comes to vehicle safety, there are two worlds. One has a high population with low purchasing power, and the other is the inverse. The average European earns about six times more than the average urban Chinese resident, and the average American makes about eight times more. The second factor is that about 35% of the world’s population lives in China and India, yet only about 14% live in the U.S. and Europe. Automakers seeking to penetrate China and India must be able to deliver ultracheap vehicles. 

Renault has been among the first to successfully capture the ultracheap market with the popular ZOE launched in 2013 and discontinued in 2024. Renault has a “no-frills” sub-brand called Dacia. The Dacia Spring EV is sold in Europe, the United Kingdom, and North African for roughly between $14,000 and $20,000 USD, depending on the model. An updated version with more power was announced in October 2025. It is the cheapest electric car in some markets like the UK, and Dacia has sold over 179,000 units in Europe since its launch. It is not sold in the United States.

The Dacia Spring is built in China, specifically in Wuhan, through a joint venture between Renault Group and the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Group. This production location in China is a key factor in its low manufacturing cost.

Let’s bring this case study back to safety. With the Spring, Dacia, the “masters of frugal engineering,” have launched a product that goes beyond no-frills.  Its performance in crash tests is downright problematic, with a high risk of life-threatening injuries for driver chest and rear passenger head in frontal crash tests and marginal chest protection in side impact.  The mediocre crash performance and poor crash avoidance technology results in one star rating for Dacia Spring from Euro NCAP.

Bottom Line

It’s difficult to comprehend just how inexpensive some EVs are in other parts of the world. However, the low prices come with tradeoffs like safety performance. That’s one of the main reasons why we don’t currently see Chinese EVs sold in the U.S. As less expensive EVs enter the U.S. market, shoppers should pay closer attention to crash ratings from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What Do You Think?

Share your firsthand experience with a Chinese EV, including any service or safety issues you have seen.

Tell us whether lane support and driver monitoring matter more to you than raw range.

Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, «The Arrival of The Electric Car.» His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.