- JAC and partner HIMA pulled market trust after viral tests showed Maextro V800 brake pedal brackets fracturing during repeated emergency stops, reflecting investor sensitivity to safety shocks amid recent rally pressure.
- The Maextro V800 is an MPV launched in August with prices from RMB 766,000 (about $114,250) to RMB 1.016 million (about $151,540); braking tests showed normal stopping ~38m but failures extended distance to ~150m.
- The model directly challenges premium MPV buyers and could face recalls, regulatory probes, supplier or design faults, production halts and margin hits if investigations confirm systemic safety defects.
On Oct. 8, the first trading day after China’s National Day holiday, JAC Motor (600418.SH) shares fell rapidly after the market opened and hit the daily limit down.
As of press time, the stock was trading at RMB 24.72 ($3.69), down 10.01%, with turnover exceeding 6% and its market capitalization falling back to about RMB 55.7 billion ($8.31 billion).
The share-price move came after a sharp rally in JAC Motor stock. Over the six trading sessions from September 22 to 30, the company’s shares gained more than 41% cumulatively.
From September 28 to 30, the cumulative deviation in the stock’s closing-price gains exceeded 20% over three consecutive trading sessions.
This prompts JAC Motor to issue an announcement on September 30 warning of abnormal stock-price movements.
The immediate trigger for the latest share-price volatility was a vehicle testing video that circulated widely on October 8.
From October 1 to 3, Chinese automotive platform Dongchedi conducted emergency braking tests on three new Maextro V800 MPVs at a closed test facility, braking from 100 km/h to a standstill.
The test video showed the brake pedal brackets on all three vehicles physically breaking, occurring during the third, fourth and second full-force braking tests, respectively.
After the brackets broke, the brake pedals detached, preventing the vehicles from being braked normally using the pedals. The test vehicles had to rely on emergency measures such as shifting into Park.
Under normal conditions, the vehicles’ braking distance was about 38 meters. After the failures occurred, the braking distance at one point increased to about 150 meters.
The three test vehicles came from different production batches, yet all experienced breaks at the same location and in a similar manner.
Based on these results, the testing party questioned whether the failures could be considered isolated incidents.
It should be noted that the tests involved repeated high-intensity emergency braking, far beyond typical daily driving conditions.
Final conclusions will depend on the results of official investigations and information from regulatory authorities.
Maextro V800 is the first MPV under the Maextro brand of HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance).
Developed jointly by Huawei and JAC, the model officially went on sale in August at prices ranging from RMB 766,000 ($114,250) to RMB 1.016 million ($151,540).
As of press time, neither the Maextro brand nor JAC Motor had released an official investigation conclusion. JAC Motor said it was monitoring the incident.
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