BYD EV Survives Missile Strike in Israel, All Passengers Alive

A BYD ATTO 3 electric vehicle, sold as Yuan Plus in China, has drawn global attention after surviving a powerful missile blast near Jerusalem on March 1, with all occupants sustaining minor to moderate injuries, reported The Times of Israel.

The incident occurred when an Iranian missile struck a road in the Jerusalem area. Footage from the scene showed the BYD EV sustained heavy external damage: shattered windows, deployed airbags, dented body panels and extensive shrapnel marks.

Despite the brutal impact, the vehicle's core structure remained intact. Its A, B and C pillars showed no deformation, all four doors opened normally, electrical systems stayed functional and the hazard lights continued working, according to photos of the report.

Crucially, BYD's signature Blade Battery suffered no leakage, fire or thermal runaway, enabling the safe evacuation of the five occupants. Three were injured – one moderately, two lightly – and all are now out of danger after timely medical treatment.

Lu Tian, general manager of BYD Dynasty Network Sales Division, reposted related updates on Monday, sparking widespread online discussion.

The ATTO 3 is a top-seller in Israel's EV market, ranking first in pure electric vehicle sales for nine consecutive months in 2023 with annual sales of 12,885 units. Another BYD model, the Song Plus (Seal U), sold around 6,800 units in Israel in 2025, surging more than 11-fold year on year and securing 10th place in the overall vehicle sales rankings, reported by Metropolis Daily today.

Chinese EV brands dominate Israel's market, accounting for 82.1 percent of the country's electric vehicle sales in the first 10 months of 2025, with BYD as the leading player, according to the report.