Euro NCAP Pans Adaptive Cruise Control System in BYD Atto 3

Europe’s road safety assessment body downgrades BYD’s latest electric Atto 3 compact SUV model, stating that its adaptive cruise control system is “not recommended.”

In what is being reported as a first for the Euro NCAP organization, the recorded assessment is a blow to the Chinese automaker’s plan for expansion into the lucrative European market.

The report also highlights that the Atto 3 uses cameras to detect speed limit signs and its speed limiter reacted to some temporary and/or conditional speed limits as though they were the established limits.

On top of this, the NCAP assessors say a lane change assist function is not provided and that if the radar or camera sensors are blocked, the car provides a warning but does not disengage.

The findings come as a surprise considering that the Atto 3 received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP’s crash testing program in 2022. The organization says the current test does not account for its in-depth assisted driving tests and only acknowledges whether the driver-assistance systems are present.

Its report reads: “The BYD Atto 3 provides modest levels of driver engagement and vehicle assistance. However, it is in the area of safety backup and, specifically, the lack of action which is taken in case of an unresponsive driver, that the car performs poorly. Overall, the system is Not Recommended for highway assistance.

“There is no speed adaptation for upcoming road features such as curves and junctions. The Atto 3 responds to avoid a collision in some of the ACC test scenarios. The driver is supported through the S-Bend but the car is kept fully in lane only at the lowest test speed.

“In case of an unresponsive driver, the Atto 3 disengages the lane centering function but keeps the adaptive cruise control active.”