2022 Tesla Model Y's five-star ANCAP safety rating thrown into doubt

September 14: ANCAP probing Tesla code modification in crash testing

Independent safety body ANCAP is investigating allegations made via social media that Tesla has modified software code used in crash test vehicles.

Posting on Twitter over the weekend, user green put the authenticity of the Model Y's record-breaking test result into question, claiming: "Tesla just added ANCAP support in their code. This is in addition to already existing "I VISTA" (Chinese testing grounds), EuroNCAP and Korea NCAP."

While there's no evidence yet to suggest that the modified code, which identifies where the vehicle is being tested, helped the Model Y perform better in the advanced driver assistance systems tests, it has prompted ANCAP to launch a probe.

A spokesperson for ANCAP told Wheels: "We're aware of the claims made on Twitter and are looking into it."

According to green, Tesla can 'geofence' certain features, such as its Full Self-Driving Beta system, for a particular region – saying: "They do enable/disable other things based on car location (like disable FSDBeta in Vancouver downtown) so the capability is there."

Wheels has contacted Tesla for comment, but has not received a response by time of publishing.

Kathryn Fisk

The story to here

September 7: Tesla Model Y awarded five-star safety rating

The newly-launched Tesla Model Y electric SUV has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, courtesy of testing conducted by Euro NCAP.

This applies to all variants that went on sale from June 2022, comprising the entry-level RWD and range-topping Performance AWD.

The Model Y scored 97 per cent for adult occupant protection (36.87 out of 38 points), 89 per cent for child occupation protection (43.62 out of 49 points) and 82 per cent for vulnerable road user protection (44.81 out of 54 points).

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ANCAP also released results for the Genesis GV60 and Kia Niro today, with all vehicles scoring a maximum five-star safety rating.

The adult occupant protection score of 97 per cent sets a new record for a vehicle tested under the latest 2020-22 criteria, with a strong result in the frontal-offset test.

Standard safety equipment includes; autonomous emergency braking with junction assist, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, emergency lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with a speed limiter.

This contributed to the Model Y setting another record, with a safety assist score of 98 per cent (15.75 out of 16 points).

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Top marks were awarded for its junction AEB system (2 out of 2 points), which can detect a vehicle entering the road from the side and apply the brakes to prevent a collision, and lane support systems (4 out of 4 points).

Seven airbags (dual frontal, side head, side chest and centre) are fitted as standard.

The centre airbag is fitted to all Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced in Shanghai, China (all Australian examples) after June 27, 2022, and is designed to prevent head clashes between the driver and front passenger in a collision.

A 'direct' monitoring camera to detect distracted drivers and enhance the sensitivity of the forward collision system is fitted to the Model Y.

This technology will be assessed by ANCAP under its forthcoming 2023 rating criteria, which will also cover floodwater and 'child presence detection' tests.

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The 2022 Tesla Model Y went on sale locally in June, starting from $72,300 before on-road costs for the RWD variant. The flagship Performance is available from $96,700 plus on-roads.

ANCAP chief executive officer, Carla Hoorweg, said today's results will provide confidence to buyers looking to purchase an electric SUV in Australia.

“All three models offer high levels of safety performance across the range of ANCAP assessment areas, demonstrating the clear ability for electric vehicle models to tick both the safe and green checkboxes," she said.

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During last month's electric vehicle summit, ANCAP called for proposed federal government incentives to only apply to vehicles with the highest safety rating.

“Today’s results demonstrate why ANCAP is encouraging all levels of government to ensure subsidies and incentives for alternative-powered vehicles are only provided to models offering the highest levels of safety,” added Hoorweg.

It is believed several examples of the BYD Atto 3 launched last week have recently undergone testing, with results expected in the coming weeks.