by Tragedy with the Xiaomi SU7 Electric Car
A horrific accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 electric car occurred in China, resulting in the death of a 31-year-old driver. The car not only crashed but subsequently burst into flames, making rescue efforts impossible.
Rescue Attempts
Witnesses to the event tried to save the driver, but their efforts proved futile. One man punched the driver’s window, while another tried to kick it out. However, the spread of the fire forced them to retreat before the firefighters arrived.
Financial Consequences
Shares of the tech giant Xiaomi fell by almost 9% following the news of the accident, marking the sharpest decline since April. Ultimately, the drop amounted to 5.24%, erasing billions from the company’s value.
Accident Circumstances
The incident occurred at night in Chengdu when the driver lost control of the vehicle, veered onto the median strip, and ended up on the opposite side of the road. Shortly thereafter, the car caught fire.
Safety Questions
The Xiaomi SU7 has simple external door handles, but, like most modern cars, the doors should automatically unlock in the event of a crash or airbag deployment. In this case, the system did not activate, although the reason is unknown. The car also has a mechanical method for opening the doors from the inside.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first incident with the Xiaomi SU7: in April, three people died in an accident in Anhui province when the doors locked immediately after the collision. A witness broke a window to pull a person from the back seat, but that person died from their injuries.
Regulatory Reaction
The incident intensifies scrutiny of electronic and semi-electronic door mechanisms in China. Regulators are considering restrictions on such designs due to general safety concerns, and US authorities continue to investigate similar malfunctions in Tesla models.
Xiaomi shares fell nearly 9% after a fatal accident with its SU7 electric car, reports Bloomberg. According to the publication, a 31-year-old driver in China collided with another car, veered into the oncoming lane, and the car caught fire. Witnesses tried to pull the man out…
This event highlights critical aspects of electric vehicle safety, especially in accident conditions when electronic systems may fail. The growing number of such cases is stimulating global discussions about the need to strengthen standards for door mechanisms, which could lead to changes in regulatory requirements and technological updates in the future.
