Overview
- The draft replaces the current format with a 100‑point system across five areas: crash protection 55%, vulnerable road‑user protection 20%, safe driving 10%, accident avoidance 10% and post‑crash safety 5%.
- Mandatory crash evaluations expand to five tests, adding full‑width frontal and rear impacts plus an oblique pole side test to the existing offset frontal and side barrier assessments.
- Eligibility tightens as base variants must include electronic stability control and curtain airbags, vehicles with side‑facing seats are excluded and optional AEBS can add points in relevant scenarios.
- Five‑star thresholds are phased to 70 points in 2027–29 then 80 points in 2029–31, with caps that bar five stars if any vertical scores zero or if injury readings fall in the red zone; a minimum AOP share is required for three stars and above.
- Analysts note several current five‑star models may need structural plus systems upgrades to retain top ratings when the new protocol replaces the existing one after September 2027.