Chinese EV failed its crash test so badly, it joins the zero-star club [Video]
Crash tests don’t lie, and the Neta V just failed harder than a fish trying to climb a tree. This Chinese EV didn’t just score low—it earned a zero-star safety rating. That’s literally as bad as it gets. With its collapsing frame, barely-there airbags, and a crash dummy taking the worst beating since an action movie stunt double, the Neta V just proved some cars are safer parked than driven.
How bad was it?
The ASEAN NCAP test sent the Neta V into a barrier at 40 mph, and it folded like a cheap lawn chair. The driver’s airbag deployed but barely slowed the crash dummy’s head. The steering wheel took the hit instead, and the entire front cabin crumpled. Even the door almost popped open. Over in the backseat, a child dummy strapped into a safety seat got thrown sideways. The official report called the Neta V’s structure “weak” and its restraints “compromised.” Translation: you do not want to be inside this thing in a crash.
The Neta V also bombed the safety tech section, scoring a perfect zero. No automatic emergency braking. Also, no blind spot monitoring. And no lane-keeping assist. Nothing. For reference, most modern cars—even cheap ones—at least throw in forward collision warning. But the Neta V is stuck in the past.
The infamous zero-star club
The Neta V isn’t the first car to earn this dishonor. It joins a sad lineup of deathtraps, including:
- The 2017 Fiat Punto, the first European car to fall to zero stars.
- The 2021 Renault Kwid, a budget car that proved a low price can cost your safety.
- The 2023 Mahindra Scorpio, got a 44% for protecting adult passengers.
- The 2023 MG5 sedan’s safety assist software got a 13/100.
These cars have one thing in common: they’re cheap, and their manufacturers cut corners on safety to keep them that way.
Not coming to the U.S. anytime soon
The good news? You won’t see the Neta V on American roads. U.S. safety regulations wouldn’t allow it. But its disastrous crash test proves a point: just because a car is modern doesn’t mean it’s safe. Automakers can build a vehicle capable of highway speeds without making it capable of surviving a highway crash. That’s why crash tests matter—and why the zero-star club is one club you never want your car to join. See the ASEAN NCAP’s video of the Neta V’s crash tests embedded below:
