When BYD Atto 3 Survived a Missile Attack in Jerusalem, the Cabin and Battery Were Safe

BYD Atto 3 survived the missile attack. (Photo: Zaker)

JAKARTA - A BYD Atto 3 electric car, which is known in the Chinese domestic market as Yuan Plus, has become the world's attention. The car survived the impact of a short-range ballistic missile explosion in Jerusalem on March 1, 2026.

Reported by the Carnewschina website, Wednesday, March 4, the vehicle was very close to the deep explosion crater. However, the car's cabin structure remained intact and the high-voltage battery system showed no indication of fire or thermal runaway or uncontrolled battery temperature increase.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said there were five people in the car when the explosion occurred. The driver suffered moderate injuries, while the other four passengers only suffered minor injuries and shock from the incident.

Photos circulating from the scene even showed the car's hazard lights still on after the explosion. This indicates that the low-voltage electrical system on the vehicle is still functioning even though it is hit by a large shock wave.

This event is an extreme proof of the durability of the Atto 3 passive safety system in real-world conditions. Military analysts assess that the vehicle did not receive a direct hit from a missile that would most likely destroy any civilian vehicle.

However, it is still seriously affected by high pressure waves, high-speed metal debris, and intense heat radiation from the explosion. In terms of structure, the integrity of the cabin is maintained. Pillars A, B, and C did not collapse, while the high-strength steel frame that makes up about 85 percent of the chassis structure was able to effectively dissipate the energy of the explosion.

Passenger evacuation access was also not hampered. After the explosion occurred, the door handles and the car's mechanical locks were still functioning normally so that all passengers could get out without the need for cutting tools from the rescue team.

Durability is also visible in the battery system. The LFP type Blade Battery which is part of the e-Platform 3.0 remains stable even though the vehicle had slipped into a crater several meters deep. The battery pack did not experience a fire or emit smoke.

This case adds to the list of incidents of electric vehicles that are able to survive in extreme situations. In June 2025, an Xpeng G6 was also reported to be intact after being hit by a missile fragment in Israel without triggering an explosion.

The BYD Atto 3 itself still maintains a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and ANCAP, with a score of 91 percent for adult passenger protection. In the Israeli market, this model has even become the best-selling electric vehicle throughout 2024 and 2025, and this latest incident further strengthens its reputation as a tough EV.