Hyundai Motor Group's EVs receive highest safety ranking

Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor Group's electric cars — the Ioniq 5, EV6, GV60 and Electrified G80 — received the highest safety ranking from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The four cars earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation by the Virginia-based nonprofit organization on Dec. 20.

To qualify for the designation, a vehicle must be given the highest rating in six criteria, including a roof strength test. Each criteria is tested by cars undergoing crash tests and autobraking performance tests.

Vehicles must be rated "advanced" — the second highest rating — or above in the front crash prevention test. It also needs a rating of "acceptable" — the second highest rating — or above for in a separate headlight test, measuring the reach of a vehicle's headlights.

Three out of the four vehicles given the Top Safety Pick+ designation use the electric-global modular platform (E-GMP), which Hyundai Motor says helped them earn the designation.

The frame of E-GMP cars are built using ultra-high-strength steel, which is also used in a battery support structure. The vehicle's side sills also feature extruded aluminum reinforcements to shield the battery from lateral shocks.

“Hyundai Motor Group is well-received by global automobile safety associations due to the safety features applied in our cars, as well as the advanced driver assistance system and airbags equipped with various technologies,” said a spokesperson for Hyundai Motor. “We plan to put in our best efforts to continue to develop renowned vehicles based on our customer-first strategy.”

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]