This is only the second year of Euro NCAP’s truck testing programme, but the latest round already shows clear progress across the industry. Of the ten popular models tested, Volvo’s FM and FH Aero and Mercedes-Benz’s Actros 420 achieved the maximum five stars. All three also gained the CitySafe label, which recognises vehicles best equipped for urban operation, where pedestrian and cyclist risks are highest.
According to Euro NCAP, HGVs represent less than 3% of all vehicles on European roads, yet they account for 15% of road fatalities. Only around 11% of casualties in accidents involving trucks are the truck occupants themselves, the majority are car and van drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.
Euro NCAP’s Director of Strategic Development, Matthew Avery, said the results show that “some of the best-known names on the side of a cab are taking meaningful steps to reduce that disproportionate impact.”
“Mercedes-Benz has responded positively to our 2024 tests, making improvements that make its Actros range a safer choice for fleet operators. Renault and Scania also deserve praise for continuing to improve the safety of their vehicles,” Avery said.
He added that future tests will increasingly resemble passenger-car protocols, including physical crash testing, to assess passive safety and reduce the risk of fatalities for other road users in the event of a collision.
Photo credits @ Euro NCAP
What the five-star rating represents
The Safer Truck programme, launched in 2024, assesses vehicles across three categories:
- Safe Driving: driver engagement, visibility, occupant monitoring, and vehicle assistance features.
- Crash Avoidance: the ability of driver assistance systems to prevent collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
- Post-Crash Safety: how effectively emergency responders can access rescue information and extract occupants.
The top five-star rating means the truck performs strongly across all three areas. According to Euro NCAP, the CitySafe designation is awarded to models that show superior vision and active safety performance in built-up areas.
For fleet operators, the rating provides independent, comparable safety data, helping them choose vehicles that protect drivers, reduce downtime and insurance claims, and safeguard company reputation.
Volvo maintains leadership in truck safety
Volvo Trucks remains the only manufacturer to have achieved five stars in both rounds of testing.
The Volvo FM and FH Aero received maximum scores in the first assessment in 2024, and their rigid versions maintained the same result this year.
Image credits @ Volvo Trucks
According to Volvo Trucks President Roger Alm, this consistency reflects the company’s long-term focus on eliminating road accidents.
“All four Volvo models that have been rated by Euro NCAP have received the top score – this confirms the outstanding safety performance of our trucks,” Alm said.
Volvo’s Traffic and Product Safety Director, Anna Wrige Berling, added that while the company welcomes the results, development continues:
“This does not mean that we can relax, with every new product launch we are striving to make our trucks even safer.”
Photo credits @ Euro NCAP
The Swedish manufacturer’s models also fulfilled Euro NCAP’s CitySafe criteria, with systems designed to detect vulnerable road users and mitigate city traffic risks.
Mercedes-Benz Actros climbs to five stars
For Mercedes-Benz, this year marks a major improvement. After declining to participate in the inaugural 2024 tests, the company entered three versions of its Actros model for 2025.
Photo credits @ Euro NCAP
The Actros 420 achieved five stars, up from three in last year’s independent test, following upgrades to safety equipment and system performance.
Two other versions, the Actros F and Actros L ProCabin, received four stars but were also recognised with the CitySafe label for their improved driver assistance systems.
Photo credits @ Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP noted that the differences in score were primarily due to driver vision, which remains a key challenge for vehicles with taller cabs.
Other manufacturers show steady progress
The 2025 results also reveal progress across several other brands:
- Renault’s T model introduced a nearside cyclist detection system, earning four stars and the CitySafe award.
- Scania’s R-series improved from three to four stars, while the G-series maintained four stars and CitySafe recognition.
- DAF’s XF held its three-star rating but stood out for making most safety systems standard equipment, meaning operators benefit without needing to specify costly options.
- MAN’s TGX, sourced independently by Euro NCAP after the company declined participation, achieved three stars but failed to qualify for CitySafe due to limited driver visibility.
Photo credits @ Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP said the tested vehicles represent around 95% of the long-haul rigid fleet segment in Europe, making the results highly relevant for operators updating or expanding their fleets.
Next phase: moving toward crash testing
Euro NCAP confirmed that the next stage of testing, planned for 2028, will expand to include crash protection assessments. These will evaluate how truck designs protect car occupants in frontal collisions – an area where current HGVs lag significantly behind passenger vehicles.
By introducing truck testing just one year ago, Euro NCAP became the first independent organisation to provide a structured, comparable safety rating for heavy commercial vehicles. Its long-term aim is to close the gap between truck and car safety performance.
“The safest truck is also the most cost-effective one,” Avery said. “We will continue to develop our testing protocols to help fleet operators protect their drivers, their reputational risk, and their bottom line.”
