Maybe so, but truth is, these cars will sell like hotcakes.
I wonder if the same safety tests are required on these cars as on other cars?
Yes, all cars imported to or sold in the US are subject to the same impact, safety, and emissions tests. If they don't pass, you can't sell them.
That's why up until very recently, the very tiniest cars like the Mercedes A-class and the Japanese Kei cars were not sold here. Now they can meet the safety standards, so they're starting to wander over.