On January 26, 2026, the China Economic Information Service, in collaboration with the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute, published the 2025 New Energy Vehicle Safety Perception Report. The report highlights that China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sector stands at the forefront globally, excelling in industrial scale, technological innovation pace, and market adoption. Moreover, it has developed a thorough and multi-layered safety framework that spans the entire industry chain.

However, a notable discrepancy exists between public perception and the industry's actual progress. The report identifies nine prevalent misconceptions regarding NEV safety. These include beliefs such as "electric cars are more dangerous than fuel cars," "hidden door handles are unsafe and hinder escape during emergencies," "battery damage inevitably leads to explosions and fires," "excellent crash test results guarantee safe driving in all scenarios," and "intelligent driving is synonymous with full autonomy, allowing drivers to disengage and become inattentive," among others. For each misconception, the report offers detailed and accurate clarifications.

For instance, it explains that NEVs typically feature higher body rigidity and greater mass, resulting in superior collision performance compared to fuel vehicles. Hidden door handles, it notes, are equipped with mechanical emergency release mechanisms and heating functions, adhering to safety standards. Battery damage, the report clarifies, does not automatically result in explosions or fires, as extreme and combined conditions are necessary to trigger thermal runaway. Crash tests, it further elaborates, verify safety baselines under standardized conditions, whereas real-world accident scenarios are far more complex. Additionally, the report underscores that intelligent driving is not equivalent to full autonomy, with drivers remaining ultimately responsible for safety.

The report stresses the importance of NEV companies enhancing their product safety features and improving communication with the public. Simultaneously, it calls for broader societal efforts to strengthen traffic rule promotion and education, solidify a consensus on safe driving practices, and collectively foster a robust and healthy industrial ecosystem.