IAF AutoSafe™ – Comprehensive Vehicle Safety & Integrity Rating
IAF AutoSafe™ is a multi-domain, A–F classification system that evaluates a vehicle’s safety and integrity across all major dimensions: crash protection, accident avoidance, digital security, battery safety and long-term durability.
AutoSafe™ brings together structural crashworthiness, adult and child occupant protection, vulnerable road user safety, active safety systems, cybersecurity, EV battery safety and durability & production consistency into one transparent evaluation framework.
AutoSafe™ Classification Levels
What does AutoSafe™ evaluate?
- Adult & child crash protection
- Accident avoidance & active safety systems
- Cybersecurity & digital manipulation resistance
- EV battery thermal & electrical safety
- Structural durability & aging resilience
A vehicle carrying the IAF AutoSafe™ label has been tested across all major safety and integrity dimensions and placed into a clear, comparable A–F class.
How AutoSafe™ Structures Vehicle Safety
AutoSafe™ evaluates every vehicle across seven core domains that collectively represent real-world crash behavior, system reliability, and long-term durability.
1. Structural Safety & Crashworthiness
Measures how the vehicle absorbs crash energy and preserves survival space for all occupants.
- Frontal offset & full-width crash tests
- Side impact & narrow-pole collisions
- Rear impact & whiplash structure
- Rollover roof crush resistance
- EV battery intrusion protection
2. Occupant Protection (Adult & Child)
Evaluates crash protection for all occupants, including children in CRS systems.
- Adult dummy metrics (frontal & side)
- Child dummy CRS performance
- ISOFIX / i-Size compatibility
- Rear-seat safety & whiplash
3. Vulnerable Road User Protection
Protects pedestrians and cyclists through soft-structure design and AEB-VRU systems.
- Headform, legform & pelvis impacts
- Front-end energy absorption
- AEB-Pedestrian & AEB-Cyclist tests
- Day & night VRU scenarios
4. Active & Preventive Safety Systems
Systems that avoid or mitigate accidents before they occur.
- AEB Car-to-Car & junction scenarios
- Lane support (LKA, ELK, LDW)
- Speed assistance & ACC
- Driver monitoring systems
5. Digital System Integrity & Cybersecurity
Ensures software, networks and keyless systems resist manipulation and intrusion.
- Secure OTA updates
- CAN/Ethernet intrusion resistance
- Digital key & relay attack protection
- Autonomous sensor spoofing defense
6. EV Battery Safety & Fire Management
Evaluates battery resilience under crash, thermal and environmental stress.
- Thermal runaway containment
- Mechanical impact & penetration safety
- Water & climate resistance
- Post-crash HV isolation
7. Durability, Environmental Resistance & Production Consistency
Ensures safety performance remains consistent over years of real-world use.
- Long-term corrosion & fatigue testing
- Extreme climate exposure
- Random factory vehicle audits
- Supplier traceability controls
IAF AutoSafe™ Test Facilities & Laboratories
All AutoSafe™ evaluations are performed in independent, accredited and high-technology test facilities operating under IAF oversight. These laboratories apply harmonised protocols, calibrated equipment and strict quality controls to ensure that every result is traceable and reproducible.
From full-scale crash testing and sled facilities to climatic chambers, corrosion labs, battery abuse cells and cybersecurity benches, each laboratory is selected and monitored according to IAF recognition criteria and international best practice in testing and calibration.
How AutoSafe™ Test Facilities Operate
- Independent, accredited labs with defined scopes for crash, EV, durability and digital testing.
- Common test procedures, instrumentation rules and data formats across all locations.
- Regular IAF oversight, correlation checks and round-robin exercises to keep results aligned.
- Clear separation between laboratory services and manufacturer interests to protect independence.
Facility Network & Governance
- Global network of crash, EV, environmental and cybersecurity labs.
- Periodic IAF audits and witness testing for critical domains.
- Secure data handling and result validation before publication.
- Clear escalation and re-test rules where anomalies are detected.
When a vehicle receives an IAF AutoSafe™ class, the underlying tests have been carried out in recognised facilities that meet defined competence, independence and equipment requirements under IAF supervision.
What AutoSafe™ Is, What It Does & Who It Is For
AutoSafe™ is not a marketing slogan, and not just a single crash test. It is a structured, repeatable and transparent evaluation framework that helps consumers, manufacturers and regulators speak the same language about vehicle safety.
For Consumers
AutoSafe™ translates highly technical testing into a simple A–F letter class and a clear explanation of what that class means in real-world driving.
- Understand safety at a glance.
- Compare models using a unified scale.
- Scan the QR code for full safety data.
In simple terms: “If I choose this car, what level of real safety am I buying?”
For Manufacturers & Importers
AutoSafe™ acts as a technical benchmark and roadmap for improving safety, digital integrity and durability across entire vehicle platforms.
- Identify improvement areas by domain.
- Align internal roadmaps with an independent standard.
- Communicate safety credibly and transparently.
Often used as a reference for new platforms, facelifts and OTA upgrade plans.
For Regulators & Fleets
AutoSafe™ provides a consistent, data-rich reference for policy making, procurement and fleet safety management.
- Use AutoSafe™ scores in tenders.
- Track safety trends over time.
- Integrate machine-readable data for fleets.
Helps answer: “Are we approving or funding vehicles that match our safety goals?”
What AutoSafe™ Is
- A structured, multi-domain evaluation standard.
- Built on IAF's recognised standards.
- Transparent in methodology and scoring.
- Designed for global comparison.
What AutoSafe™ Is Not
- Not a marketing label.
- Not a single crash test or star rating.
- Not a replacement for legal homologation.
- Not static — it evolves with technology.
From Test Bench to AutoSafe™ Class
Every AutoSafe™ rating follows a transparent, documented workflow — beginning in accredited labs and ending with a verified A–F class supported by a complete technical audit trail.
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1
Test Program Definition
The vehicle variant, powertrain, software version and equipment level are defined. A full AutoSafe™ matrix is created, covering crash, track, digital and durability evaluations across all domains.
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2
Execution of Physical, Digital & Environmental Tests
Accredited laboratories perform crash tests, AEB/VRU trials, cybersecurity assessments, battery abuse tests and durability cycles using harmonised IAF protocols.
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3
Domain Scoring & Weighting
Each domain receives a 0–100 score based on its detailed sub-metrics. AutoSafe™ weighting rules combine these into a preliminary global score.
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4
Penalties, Caps & Consistency Checks
Severe findings (e.g., cyber weaknesses or EV thermal issues) may trigger penalties or caps. Production consistency audits ensure tested performance matches mass-produced vehicles.
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5
Final Rating, Report & Label Issuance
The final A–F class, domain scores and technical findings are published in the AutoSafe™ Final Report. A unique AutoSafe™ ID and QR-linked consumer label are assigned.
Why This Process Matters
- Consumers see a simple letter — professionals see the full technical detail.
- Manufacturers know exactly which domain influenced the final class.
- Regulators have a traceable audit trail for major safety decisions.
In short, AutoSafe™ connects “What does this car score?” with “Why does it score this way?” — and makes both transparent.