BYD Atto 3 withstands Iranian ballistic missile strike in Israel, all occupants survive

The occupants of an electric BYD have survived a ballistic missile attack in Israel, with the small SUV withstanding the force of the projectile which struck the ground just next to it.

Images and footage taken of the BYD Atto 3 in Jerusalem last week show its doors looking a bit battered, its front bumper missing and its curtain airbags deployed, but its lights are still seen functioning.

The Atto 3’s lithium iron phosphate ‘Blade’ battery also wasn’t compromised, and its passenger cell appears to have held up to the force of the blast.

Five people were taken to hospital, according to The Times of Israel: two “lightly hurt” by the impact; two who were treated for acute anxiety; and the driver who received “moderate” shrapnel injuries. It’s understood these five people were all inside the BYD.

The Atto 3 driver reportedly sustained a head injury when he stopped short at the edge of the crater while driving.

While the Atto 3 wasn’t directly hit by the missile, it protected its occupants from the shockwaves, flying shrapnel and other impacts of an adjacent strike.

The doors were also still able to be opened, allowing emergency services to safely remove the vehicle’s occupants.

The BYD Atto 3, which will soon be comprehensively upgraded, has a five-star rating from independent Australian safety authority ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2022.

It received an adult occupant protection rating of 91 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 84 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 69 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 80 per cent.