China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI) is an automotive safety testing and rating system jointly published by China Insurance Automotive Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. and China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., under the guidance of the Insurance Association of China. First introduced on 20 July 2017, the index benchmarks the proven methodology of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States, systematically evaluating vehicle safety from a motor insurance perspective with a dual focus on vehicle damage severity and occupant injury in road accidents.
The 2024 revision introduced notable refinements to the 2023 protocol, incorporating the dedicated "New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Special" evaluation index for the first time to assess risks specific to electrified vehicles. By 2026, C-IASI had evaluated over 1,990 vehicle models across more than 2,800 crash tests, covering Chinese domestic, joint-venture, and imported marques.
The C-IASI rating system comprises five core assessment modules:
| Evaluation Index | Core Assessment Scope |
|---|---|
| Crashworthiness and Repair Economy Index | Structural damage severity and repair costs in low-speed collisions (benchmarked against RCAR standards) |
| Occupant Safety Index | Frontal 25% small overlap crash (driver and passenger side), side impact, roof strength, seats/head restraints, etc. |
| Pedestrian Safety Index | Front-end protection performance for pedestrian head and lower-leg impacts |
| Vehicle Safety Assist Index | Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane support systems, headlamp performance, emergency rescue/e-Call services, etc. |
| NEV Special Index (Introduced in 2024) | Traction battery structural integrity, underbody scraping impact resistance, post-crash electrical isolation safety, etc. |
Overall ratings are published across five distinct tiers: Good+ (G+), Good (G), Acceptable (A), Marginal (M), and Poor (P) , serving as essential reference benchmarks for motor insurance premium calculation, vehicle safety engineering, and consumer purchasing decisions.
Key test parameters under C-IASI include:
Frontal 25% Small Overlap Crash: The vehicle strikes a rigid barrier at 64.4 km/h with a 25% overlap ratio, assessing cabin deformation, occupant dummy injury metrics, and restraint system performance. The 2023 protocol extended this test to include the passenger-side frontal 25% small overlap impact.
Side Impact Crash: A mobile deformable barrier strikes the driver's side at 50 km/h to evaluate cabin intrusion levels and occupant injury severity.
Roof Strength: Constant loading is applied via a rigid plate to determine the peak strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) within 127 mm of structural displacement.
Low-Speed Crash: Frontal and rear-end barrier impacts are conducted at 15 km/h to determine component repairability and economic repair costs.
The 2026 evaluation protocol completed its final review in July 2026 and is scheduled for official rollout. Key revisions include:
Full integration of the NEV Special Index: EV-specific hazard assessments, including post-crash traction battery thermal runaway/fire prevention and automatic high-voltage cut-off activation, are now incorporated into the unified assessment framework.
Stricter parameters across standard tests: Test speeds for selected impact scenarios have been raised from 50 km/h to 60 km/h; advanced impact barriers (AC-MPDB/AC-MDB) have been introduced; and pass/fail thresholds have been made more stringent across all categories.
Differentiated occupant sizing and posture assessments: Next-generation test dummies and seating scenarios reflecting real-world driving and riding postures, including reclined seat angles, have been introduced.
Expanded active safety evaluation: Assessment coverage now includes Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Door Open Warning (DOW), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS).
Industry observers note that the C-IASI 2026 updates directly address the urgent need within the insurance sector for more accurate risk profiling—driven by persistently high claims loss ratios for NEVs, with several models facing severe premium-to-value discrepancies.
C-IASI crash test outcomes have driven substantial advancements in complete vehicle engineering:
Body Structure Reinforcements: Automakers have increased the application of high-strength and ultra-high-strength hot-formed steels, reinforced A- and B-pillar architectures, and optimised crash load paths.
Restraint System Optimisation: Airbag deployment algorithms have been fine-tuned alongside more precise engineering of seat belt pre-tensioners and occupant motion limiters.
Standardisation of Pedestrian Protection: Refined front bumper profiles and standard-fit Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems have markedly improved protection for vulnerable road users (VRUs).
Evaluation findings from 2025 show that 94% of tested models scored a 'Good' or higher rating in Occupant Safety, while Pedestrian Safety and Vehicle Safety Assist achieved a 100% top-tier score. However, Crashworthiness and Repair Economy remains an industry-wide weakness—with only 29% of models securing a 'Good' rating, indicating significant room for manufacturers to reduce post-collision repair costs for vehicle owners.
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