AITO M8 Becomes First Vehicle to Earn Five-Star Rating in China's EV Fire Safety Index

Industry First: AITO M8 Earns Five-Star Fire Safety Index Rating

The AITO M8 Max+ pure electric five-seat long-range edition has officially completed China's Electric Vehicle Fire Safety Index 2026 edition testing, earning a five-star rating with outstanding performance. Notably, this marks the industry's first model to pass the 2026 edition Fire Safety Index test and receive five-star certification, signaling another critical milestone for AITO in the field of electric vehicle safety.

As the number of new energy vehicles on the road grows rapidly, battery safety has become a top concern for both consumers and the industry. The Fire Safety Index, a key standard for measuring EV safety performance, has undergone comprehensive upgrades in its 2026 edition with more stringent testing criteria and evaluation frameworks, imposing tougher requirements on overall vehicle protection capabilities. The AITO M8's ability to be the first to secure a five-star rating under the new standard fully demonstrates its technical prowess in safety engineering.

Body Protection: Eight-Crossbeam, Five-Longitudinal Rigid Structure Creates a Safety Barrier

In terms of body protection, the AITO M8 features an "eight-crossbeam, five-longitudinal" rigid structural design that creates a high-strength body frame. In material selection, the vehicle extensively uses advanced materials including aluminum alloy, high-strength steel, and hot-stamped steel, which together account for over 81% of the structure. This high proportion of high-strength materials not only effectively enhances the vehicle's overall rigidity and crash resistance but also provides a solid physical barrier protecting the passenger cabin and battery pack under extreme conditions.

This design philosophy reflects AITO's deep commitment to passive safety — through a dual strategy of structural optimization and material upgrades, it reduces the risk of post-collision fires at the source, giving occupants more time to evacuate.

Battery Safety: Five-Layer Protection System Mitigates Risks Comprehensively

Battery safety is the core element of EV fire protection. The AITO M8 has built a multi-layered, comprehensive safety protection system in this critical area. The model employs a "five-layer cell encapsulation" technology that establishes defenses layer by layer starting from the cell level, effectively suppressing the occurrence and spread of thermal runaway. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a "five-layer battery pack bottom protection" structure to address complex road challenges such as scraping, collisions, and debris impacts from the road surface.

This three-dimensional protection strategy — spanning from cells to battery packs, from interior to exterior — covers multiple safety risk scenarios that batteries may face, demonstrating AITO's systematic thinking and engineering execution capabilities in battery safety technology.

Industry Significance: Upgraded Safety Standards Drive High-Quality NEV Development

The AITO M8's five-star certification under the 2026 edition Fire Safety Index is not just a technical breakthrough for a single model — it holds exemplary significance for the entire new energy vehicle industry. Currently, China's NEV market is transitioning from "scale expansion" to "quality refinement," with consumer attention to safety performance continuing to rise. The introduction of stricter safety standards and certification systems will push the industry to continuously innovate in key areas such as battery technology, body structure, and thermal management.

As the 2026 edition Fire Safety Index is gradually adopted, more automakers are expected to join the competition for higher safety standards. By being the first to pass this test, the AITO M8 has not only built important safety credibility for its brand but also provided consumers with a more valuable safety reference when purchasing electric vehicles.

Outlook: Safety Will Become a Core Competitive Advantage for Smart EVs

As intelligence and electrification continue to converge, safety remains the baseline and lifeline of automotive products. The AITO M8's breakthrough in fire safety sends a clear signal: future competition among smart electric vehicles will not only be about intelligent cockpits and autonomous driving but also a comprehensive contest of safety foundations. Automakers with proven safety technologies will earn greater trust and preference from consumers in the marketplace.