Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers demonstrated significant progress in safety and performance, with Geely’s Zeekr X emerging as one of the top performers in the Euro NCAP’s “Best in Class” awards for 2024. The small SUV category, the most competitive in Europe, saw the Zeekr X outpace both European legacy brands and other electric competitors to secure the title of the safest EV of the year.
The Zeekr X achieved high marks for its performance in Euro NCAP’s rigorous safety testing, surpassing models such as the Deepal S07, Porsche Macan EV, Cupra Tavascan, and Xpeng G6. This achievement highlights the advancements Chinese automakers have made in design, build quality, and safety over the past decade.
While Chinese automakers had a strong showing, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class led the rankings with the highest overall score of 2024. The executive sedan excelled in all four safety categories, reinforcing its reputation as a leading model in its class. In the Large SUV segment, Mazda’s CX-80 edged out Audi’s Q6 e-tron, while the Large Family Car category saw the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb sharing top honors due to identical safety scores.
Euro NCAP noted that some vehicle categories were excluded from the rankings due to insufficient data or critical safety flaws, as vehicles with significant safety issues are capped at a maximum of four stars. Meanwhile, the Maxus eTerron 9, a fully electric pickup, earned recognition as the first vehicle of its type to undergo Euro NCAP’s testing, though it did not secure a category win.
As safety testing protocols evolve, Euro NCAP plans to implement updates in 2026 while retaining its five-star rating system. The latest results underline the growing competitiveness of Chinese EV manufacturers and the challenges traditional brands face in maintaining their market positions in Europe.
