A tragic incident involving a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has sparked widespread concern over the safety of electric vehicles. The vehicle caught fire following a serious accident on Tianfu Avenue in Chengdu , the largest city in western China, around 3:16 AM on October 13 . The driver, a 31-year-old man, was sadly trapped inside the vehicle as flames engulfed it. This heartbreaking event has reignited discussions regarding the safety of electronic handles found in electric cars, particularly in light of recent trends initiated by companies like Tesla and adopted by various manufacturers in the premium automotive sector. Significantly, changes to regulations concerning this issue are anticipated in China.
What Happened?
The unfortunate accident unfolded when the driver, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol , collided with another sedan, leading to his vehicle crossing the median and subsequently catching fire. Eyewitness accounts detail how numerous bystanders attempted to rescue him, resorting to striking the car’s windows with their elbows and shoes to free the trapped man. However, despite their efforts, the windows did not break. Desperate, they turned to fire extinguishers but found the flames and rising heat too intense to get close enough to assist. When firefighters finally arrived on the scene, they were forced to douse the fire, but only a charred chassis remained. The rescuers had to utilize hammers and electric saws to cut through the doors, which were too damaged to be opened manually.
Why Didn’t the Doors Open?
As reported by local authorities, the door mechanisms may have failed due to the loss of electrical power following the accident. This scenario has drawn parallels with similar reports related to Tesla’s electronic handle systems, which have been known to malfunction after a loss of power, rendering doors inoperable. The Chengdu police did inform that alcohol may have played a role in the driver’s inability to escape, but the exact reasons behind the electrical failure are still unclear. As of now, neither Xiaomi nor Chengdu authorities have provided an official statement regarding the incident. We have reached out to Xiaomi for more information and will provide updates should they become available.
The Impact on Xiaomi
The implications of this tragic event extend beyond the loss of life, impacting Xiaomi’s financial standing as well. Following this accident, Xiaomi’s shares on the Hong Kong market fell by as much as 9% , ultimately closing down by 5.71% —marking the worst day for the company since April. This isn’t the first time a Xiaomi vehicle has been involved in a fatal accident. In March, a previous incident involving an SU7 in intelligent driving mode resulted in the deaths of three university students. This prompted the company to announce a software update for nearly 116,900 SU7 units in September, aimed at addressing issues with the driving assistance system after regulatory warnings regarding its performance.
A Problem that Goes Beyond Xiaomi
The safety issues surrounding electronic door handles extend well beyond Xiaomi and highlight critical discussions within the electric vehicle sector as a whole. In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. opened an investigation into Tesla over their Model Y handles, following reports that individuals were injured—or even died—due to the inability to exit when power was lost. Additionally, a recent wrongful death lawsuit claimed that a Cybertruck ’s door handle system failed to allow a young man to escape from a burning vehicle. Similarly, Rivian is redesigning its upcoming R2 SUV to include a more visible manual opening option in response to concerns raised by employees.
What Do Chinese Regulations Say?
In light of these alarming incidents, Chinese authorities are currently in the public consultation phase to establish new safety standards for vehicle door handles. These anticipated regulations specifically target the use of electronic door handles , which are likely to come into effect soon, placing additional pressure on automakers to devise safer alternatives.
The tragic fire involving the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra underscores a pressing concern regarding vehicle safety in the evolving landscape of electric cars. With rising scrutiny and impending regulatory changes, the industry must prioritize the safety and functionality of its designs to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.