China's BYD gets 5-star European safety rating for electric SUV

LONDON -- BYD received a coveted five-star Euro NCAP safety rating for its electric Atto 3 crossover, the latest Chinese automaker to receive top marks as it seeks to gain a foothold in Europe's competitive car market.

Ratings from the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) are not binding, as it does not certify vehicles for road use. But European consumers pay attention to Euro NCAP's safety tests and automakers aggressively market good ratings.

BYD is seeking to establish a foothold in Europe and has disclosed tentative prices for three full-electric vehicles that will be delivered in six European countries.

The Atto 3 will be sold for 38,000 euros ($36,480), while two midsize models, the Tang SUV and the Han sedan, have been priced at 72,000 euros.

Last week, German car rental company Sixt said it has committed to buying about 100,000 EVs from BYD in the coming years.

This week, BYD launched the Atto 3 in India, which sells in China as the Yuan Plus.

Two other Chinese-made cars - the Citroen C5 X, built by a joint venture between Stellantis and Dongfeng, and the Mobilize Limo, an electric sedan made by Renault, together with Jiangling Motors, both received four-star ratings.

Last month, Chinese rival Great Wall Motor received five-star ratings for its Coffee 01 hybrid SUV from its WEY brand, and for its Funky Cat electric sedan from the ORA brand.

Mercedes-Benz's EQE electric sedan was among other vehicles that received a five-star rating on Wednesday.

The vehicle's driver assistance system - including one that moves the car to the slowest lane on a highway and brings it to a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive - made it the highest-scoring car so far for assisted-driving functions, Euro NCAP said.