BYD has made an impressive entrance into Europe’s long-haul truck market, with its new ETT 44 battery-electric tractor unit securing the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s latest commercial vehicle safety tests.
The Chinese manufacturer’s ETT 44 also picked up Euro NCAP’s CitySafe award, putting the newcomer alongside established European manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Scania in the latest round of truck safety assessments unveiled alongside IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover.
The result is particularly significant as the BYD ETT 44 is the first long-haul heavy electric truck evaluated under Euro NCAP’s truck safety programme.
For European and Irish fleet operators assessing the move from diesel to battery-electric trucks, the result provides an important independent benchmark, demonstrating that electrification does not necessarily involve any compromise in safety performance.
Strong debut for BYD
Tested as a 4×2 tractor unit, the BYD ETT 44 achieved 89 per cent for Safe Driving, 73 per cent for Crash Avoidance and 80 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
One of the truck’s strongest features is its direct vision.
Its relatively low cab mounting height, lower door vision window and digital eMirrors help provide the driver with an excellent view around the vehicle – particularly important when operating around pedestrians and cyclists.
Euro NCAP awarded the ETT 44 particularly high marks for vision, while driver monitoring, seat-belt reminders, speed assistance and adaptive cruise control also contribute to its overall safety package.
However, Euro NCAP identified scope for further improvement in BYD’s active safety technology.
The ETT 44’s 73 per cent Crash Avoidance result was below the strongest performers in the latest tests, particularly in frontal vehicle-to-vehicle and lane-departure collision avoidance.
Despite this, the five-star result represents a significant first showing for BYD as it targets a greater share of Europe’s heavy commercial vehicle market.
Mercedes-Benz Actros F moves to five stars
The updated Mercedes-Benz Actros F also achieved a five-star rating and CitySafe award.
Previously rated at four stars, the 2026 Actros F was assessed in both 4×2 tractor and 6×2 rigid configurations.
It achieved 79 per cent for Safe Driving, 82 per cent for Crash Avoidance and 80 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
Euro NCAP highlighted improvements to its driver assistance systems, including performance in lane-departure and cyclist nearside-turn scenarios.
Scania scores 96 per cent for crash avoidance
Scania’s updated G- and R-series also secured five-star ratings and CitySafe awards.
The Scania G-series achieved 82 per cent for Safe Driving and an impressive 96 per cent for Crash Avoidance, while the R-series scored 76 per cent and 96 per cent respectively.
Both achieved 80 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
The Scania trucks performed particularly strongly in active crash-avoidance scenarios involving other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
There is, however, an important message for fleet buyers: Euro NCAP says much of the equipment enabling the Scania models to achieve their five-star results is optional rather than standard equipment.
IVECO S-WAY receives two stars
At the other end of the latest results, the IVECO S-WAY 4×2 rigid, tested in the Regional Distribution category, achieved a two-star rating with its standard equipment specification.
It scored 67 per cent for Safe Driving, just 20 per cent for Crash Avoidance and 80 per cent for Post Crash Safety.
Euro NCAP pointed to limited direct vision and the absence of some active safety technologies intended to protect pedestrians and cyclists, particularly during urban operation.
Safety specification becoming a fleet issue
The latest results underline an increasingly important issue for transport operators: simply comparing truck models may not be enough.
Euro NCAP is urging fleet buyers to look closely at exactly which safety systems are fitted as standard and which must be specified as optional equipment.
That consideration is likely to become increasingly important as operators compare diesel and electric trucks on total cost of ownership, range, payload, operational efficiency and safety.
Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development at Euro NCAP, welcomed BYD’s arrival in the European heavy truck market and said its new long-haul electric truck has arrived with a “strong focus on safety and a five-star rating”.
He also praised the latest performances from Mercedes-Benz and Scania, while encouraging operators to specify the technologies required to provide the highest levels of protection for drivers and other road users.
For BYD, however, the headline from Hannover is clear: Europe’s established long-haul truck manufacturers have a new electric competitor – and it has arrived with a five-star safety rating.
