BYD says ANCAP’s evolving safety scale confuses car buyers
A. Krivonosov
BYD criticizes ANCAP’s changing safety ratings, saying the star count misleads buyers. Despite five-star models, BYD may launch a four‑star car to match demand.
BYD has criticized ANCAP’s safety regime, arguing that the modern scale has become overly confusing for ordinary car buyers. Stephen Collins, who leads the brand’s Australian division, said the three-year protocol cycle and the expanding list of criteria make direct comparisons almost impossible. Even ANCAP’s introduction of a six-year validity period for ratings has not made things clearer, according to Tarantas News. For anyone shopping without a spreadsheet, the headline star count now tells only a sliver of the story.
At the same time, all current BYD models carry five stars under the standards of their respective periods, while several rivals—from the Hyundai Kona to the Suzuki Swift—score noticeably lower. Collins maintained that the brand continues to prioritize maximum safety, pointing to mandatory eCall on newcomers such as the Sealion 8. As signals go, that requirement reads like a firm commitment in the mass-market arena.
Even so, BYD is prepared to bring a four‑star car to market if it aligns with customer demand. Mitsubishi takes a similar stance, viewing the push for five stars as expensive and not always justified. With the latest protocols, today’s four‑star cars can, in practice, be safer than yesterday’s five‑star models—but getting that nuance across to buyers is becoming increasingly difficult.
