Xiaomi officially responds to the SU7 high-speed crash and fire incident, To Be Continued
- Max
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 9
At 22:44 on the evening of March 29, 2025, a Xiaomi SU7 with license plate number E-AAV1226 collided with a New Jersey barrier in the central median on the Chiqi section of the Deshang Expressway in Anhui Province, subsequently catching fire. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of all three occupants inside the vehicle, drawing widespread public attention.
According to leaked chat logs and related videos online, a netizen claiming to be the boyfriend of one of the victims stated that the vehicle involved was a standard version of the Xiaomi SU7, which is not equipped with lidar and only supports basic highway navigation assistance. He described that the vehicle caught fire rapidly after the collision, trapping all three occupants inside. External rescuers were unable to break the windows in time, leading to the tragedy.
Three days after the accident, Xiaomi disclosed preliminary investigation findings today at 12:46 PM via its official Weibo account @Xiaomi Corporate Spokesperson.
According to the post, prior to the accident, the vehicle was operating in NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) mode at a speed of 116 km/h. At 22:44:24, the system detected construction-related obstacles ahead and immediately issued a risk warning while automatically reducing speed. Driving data shows that the driver took over control from NOA at 22:44:25, switching to manual driving. However, between 22:44:26 and 22:44:28, the vehicle collided with a concrete pillar in the central median at approximately 97 km/h.
This time gap has become a focal point of public skepticism. In professional automotive industry groups and fan communities, many have raised concerns that the interval between the NOA system’s warning and the collision was too short. Could the tragedy have been avoided if the system had identified the risk earlier and taken evasive action?
Particularly noteworthy is that the vehicle involved was a standard SU7, lacking lidar and relying solely on cameras and millimeter-wave radar for environmental perception. Questions have been raised about whether this setup has technical limitations in low-light conditions and complex construction zone lighting.
Photos of the accident scene circulating online show that the vehicle was severely damaged, with only the burnt metal frame remaining. Based on the images, the fire likely originated in the front of the vehicle, spreading rapidly from the hood to the rear, nearly completely destroying the front cabin.
Additionally, the official statement did not address the battery explosion. In previous product launches, Xiaomi had dedicated a segment to introducing the cell-inverted technology used in the SU7.
Reviewing the information disclosed during the launch event, Xiaomi claimed that this technology ensures that in extreme cases such as thermal runaway, high-pressure and high-temperature gases from the battery cells are rapidly released downward through pressure relief valves and exhaust channels, minimizing risks to the passenger compartment above.
However, in this incident, an explosion has been confirmed by media reports. Why did this happen? This is a key question that the victims’ families and the public are eager to have answered.
Another critical piece of information awaiting disclosure from Xiaomi is whether the doors and locks functioned properly during the incident. If not, what caused the failure, and what solutions exist?
Furthermore, Xiaomi customer service representatives have stated in response to inquiries that the SU7 is equipped with mechanical emergency release devices located in the storage compartment under the door panel. Even if the battery is damaged, occupants can still unlock the doors by pulling the emergency release handle.
However, whether the occupants in the accident failed to escape successfully because they could not find the device in time, or because the vehicle's structure deformed after the collision and caused it to fail, remains to be investigated.
Currently, Xiaomi has formed a dedicated task force to assist with on-site investigations, pledging full cooperation with authorities and the victims’ families. The company emphasized that updates and findings will be released to the public through official channels.
Meanwhile, a Weibo user @Shiyu370491153, claiming to be the mother of one of the victims, posted that she received news of the accident that night but stated, “From the incident until now, no one from Xiaomi has contacted us, not even a single word of condolence.”
As of now, Xiaomi Group founder Lei Jun’s Weibo account has temporarily stopped updating. After posting seven times on March 31, he has not made any new posts as of April 1 and has yet to publicly address the incident.
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