Fiat CEO's swipe at Euro NCAP lands as ANCAP's tougher 2026 protocols reshape Australian safety ratings
The newly appointed Fiat chief says independent safety ratings confuse buyers, but ANCAP's stricter 2026 protocols are already influencing which vehicles reach Australia unrated — and what must change before they earn five stars.
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What changed: ANCAP's Stages of Safety era
From 2026, ANCAP has replaced its previous four-pillar assessment with a 'Stages of Safety' framework organised around what happens before, during and after a crash: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, Crash Protection and Post-Crash. ANCAP says the structure is based on the Haddon Injury Prevention Matrix and was developed in collaboration with Euro NCAP's safety experts, providing a shared international benchmark for Australia and New Zealand. 36
Each of the four stages will be scored out of 100 points and expressed as a percentage for buyers who want detail beyond the star rating, with minimum thresholds continuing to apply in every stage before a five-star rating can be awarded. ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg described the shift as more than a reorganisation, telling CarExpert at an event in Europe: "This is not a cosmetic update, it's a meaningful step forward." 63
Euro NCAP introduced its own corresponding 2026–2028 protocols — the organisation's 14th main protocol period, part of its Vision 2030 strategy published in 2022 — and CarExpert reports ANCAP's criteria were largely adopted from these, with only minor differences between the two organisations. The BMW iX3 electric SUV was the first model assessed under the new European requirements, achieving a maximum five-star rating. 1
How the new tests differ
The Safe Driving stage penalises what CarExpert's coverage calls 'distraction by design' — key functions buried in touchscreen menus — and requires driver monitoring systems to demonstrate genuine capability in detecting distraction and fatigue. Hoorweg said speed assistance systems must show both accuracy and meaningful driver engagement, with vehicles assessed using road signs and driving environments reflecting Australian and New Zealand conditions. 6
Crash Avoidance testing now examines how driver assistance systems behave in real-world conditions, including whether autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems perform as well at night and in rain as in daylight, whether they detect road workers in high-visibility clothing, and how quickly steering reacts when lane support activates. ANCAP says intrusive or poorly calibrated systems will be penalised, while smooth, intuitive operation will be rewarded — a change ANCAP says responds directly to consumer feedback. 63
Crash Protection remains the structural core, with changes including a deformable barrier in the full-width frontal test, an additional dummy in the front passenger seat, and a smaller 'female' driver dummy replacing the previous 'male' dummy in the frontal offset test. A seat or seat rail failure — as occurred in the MG 3 crash test in 2025 — now triggers an automatic 50 per cent loss of points in this category, effectively ruling out a five-star rating. Post-Crash assessment covers eCall emergency notification, electric door handles remaining operable after an impact, high-voltage battery isolation in electric vehicles and EV rescue guidance. 63
The ratings that sparked the debate
CarExpert reports that Fiat CEO Arnaud Belloni, speaking to Autocar after his August 2026 appointment, argued Euro NCAP's frequent protocol changes have left buyers confused. "Euro NCAP, it is existing, but customers don't get it anymore," he told the publication, adding that cars which were five-star a few years ago become three-star, then two, and that "very few manufacturers are taking it really seriously". He said industry safety gains are now widely understood by consumers, reducing the relevance of ever-changing ratings. 1
Those comments contrast with remarks Euro NCAP technical director Richard Schram made to CarExpert during a crash test in the Netherlands earlier in 2026. "We've been able to improve progressive safety, battery structures, airbags, active safety," he said, crediting the protocols for pushing the industry beyond regular regulatory requirements. Schram also acknowledged cost pressure, noting Renault-owned budget brand Dacia makes a conscious choice to target three stars — its Duster is sold in Australia as the Renault Duster — but that even then its performance is "significantly better than [mandated] regulation". 1
Australian context sharpened the picture in February 2026, when ANCAP awarded five-star ratings under its outgoing 2023–2025 criteria to the Leapmotor B10, Geely Starray EM-i, Zeekr 7X, Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe and Kia EV4, and extended the MG HS rating to hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Hoorweg said at the time that independent assessment "ensures vehicles meet the highest standards for protection, regardless of badge or price point". 24
Rating expiries and unrated vehicles
Both Euro NCAP and ANCAP apply six-year rating validity periods, and only vehicles built during that window retain the original rating. CarExpert cites the current Toyota Corolla as a local example: its five-star rating based on 2018 testing expired at the end of 2024, making examples built from January 1, 2025 unrated. Buyers are advised to check both the rating and its validity, since an expired rating does not automatically apply to later-built examples. CarExpert notes a new-generation Corolla is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2027. 1
The transition has also caught larger players. News.com.au reports the new-generation Toyota RAV4 — Australia's most popular SUV — will launch in Australia without an ANCAP rating after production delays pushed its arrival into the 2026 testing window. Toyota Australia product planning specialist Peter Phan said the RAV4 "is actually the safest we've ever developed" but must now meet the tougher 2026 protocols, and Toyota confirmed the required safety upgrades cannot be retrofitted, leaving early 2026 buyers with a permanently unrated vehicle. 7
News.com.au also reports Hoorweg warns Australia's regulatory framework — where the Australian Design Rules remain the legal floor — lags the European Union's General Safety Regulation 2, which has mandated features such as crash data recorders, advanced cyclist detection and intelligent speed alerts for all new cars sold in Europe since mid-2024. She argued the gap risks Australia becoming a "dumping ground" for less-safe vehicles, and cited BYD's decision to skip ANCAP assessment for its 2026 Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid as an example of voluntary testing not reaching every model. 7
What independent experts say it means for buyers
Writing for The Conversation through the University of Melbourne's Find an Expert platform, Associate Professor Milad Haghani notes most Australians say they would not buy a car without a five-star rating, and that manufacturers tailor what they supply to Australia and New Zealand accordingly. He advises buyers to check when a car was tested and which model was assessed, and to compare detailed stage scores rather than stars alone, since two five-star cars can differ substantially in crash protection, crash avoidance or vulnerable road user protection. 5
Haghani broadly welcomes the new framework but flags one risk: vulnerable road user protection, previously a distinct pillar, could become diluted within the more complex system. He points out that Australia's pedestrian death rate has risen in recent years even as occupant safety improved, and that newer vehicles are growing larger and taller — design features associated with higher injury risk for pedestrians and cyclists. He argues ratings must keep that area clearly visible, or manufacturers will have less incentive to address it. 5
ANCAP says the first tests under the 2026 protocols were expected to take place around April and May, with the first rating under the new system expected to be published in July, while News.com.au reports the first crash tests under the updated regime were expected by mid-year. ANCAP's stated objective is unchanged: reducing deaths and serious injuries on Australian and New Zealand roads — 1,592 of which, it says, were lost in vehicle-related crashes across the two countries in the year before its announcement. 637
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- New vehicle safety assessment protocols have implications for Australian buyersNews publisherSource extract saved
Why these labels?New vehicle safety assessment protocols have implications for Australian buyers
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Publishes automotive news and reviews and operates a car-buying service connecting buyers with dealers. Identity reference ↗
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Cited in 4 paragraphs: What changed: ANCAP's Stages of Safety era; The ratings that sparked the debate; Rating expiries and unrated vehicles.
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- Latest five star results reflect growing safety across market - ANCAPRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?Latest five star results reflect growing safety across market - ANCAP
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Why these labels?Safety before, during and after a crash: New gen rating ...
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Cited in 5 paragraphs: What changed: ANCAP's Stages of Safety era; How the new tests differ; What independent experts say it means for buyers.
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- Latest five star results reflect growing safety across marketRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?Latest five star results reflect growing safety across market
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We have not documented this publisher’s role. An unassigned label is not a negative rating.
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Cited in 1 paragraph: The ratings that sparked the debate.
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Why these labels?Buying a car? Here's what you need to know about new safety ...
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Cited in 2 paragraphs: What independent experts say it means for buyers.
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- 2026 ANCAP safety protocols are here: What you need to knowNews publisherSource extract saved
Why these labels?2026 ANCAP safety protocols are here: What you need to know
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Publishes automotive news and reviews and operates a car-buying service connecting buyers with dealers. Identity reference ↗
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Cited in 6 paragraphs: What changed: ANCAP's Stages of Safety era; How the new tests differ; What independent experts say it means for buyers.
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- Australia risks becoming car safety ‘dumping ground' amid weak lawsRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?Australia risks becoming car safety ‘dumping ground' amid weak laws
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