Tesla Model 3 awarded 5-star ANCAP safety rating in Australia

Tesla’s new mass-market Model 3 electric sedan has been awarded the highest possible safety rating in Australia, being granted a 5-Star safety rating by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The lower-priced Tesla received the 5-start rating following testing across a range of factors, including adult and child safety, pedestrian safety measures and assistance systems.

The Model 3 has a range of safety features that are incorporated as standard, including dual airbags for frontal and side head and chest impacts, autonomous emergency braking as well as steering assists and lane departure warnings.

The Model 3 was awarded the highest rating to date for the driver assist features included with the vehicle, including a steering assist system that can actively intervene when a hazard is identify to help the vehicle avoid a collision.

The Model 3 received near perfect scores for adult passenger safety and for driver safety assist controls, with scores of 96% and 94% respectively.

“This is an impressive result, and great to see electric vehicles continuing to prioritise safety” ANCAP chief executive officer, James Goodwin said.

“It is encouraging to see Tesla give equal attention to the active safety systems and technologies on board as well as the safety fundamentals through the structure and restraint.”

The strong result in Australian safety ratings follows similarly high safety ratings achieved by the Model 3 in each of Europe and the United States.

The United States safety score was the highest rating ever achieved.

The Tesla Model S, which was first assessed by ANCAP in 2015, also received a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, with the ANCAP ratings applying to vehicles sold in both Australia and New Zealand.

In its most recent quarterly production update, Tesla reported that it had delivered more than 77,600 Model 3 vehicles in Q2 2019, with the vehicle maintaining its position as the highest selling premium vehicle in the US, electric and petrol vehicles included.

Deliveries of the Model 3 in Australia are expected to commence in August.