On March 29, a fatal accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 Standard electric sedan occurred on the Dezhou-Shangrao Highway (G0321) near Tongling, Anhui Province, China. The crash claimed the lives of three female university students, marking the first reported fatality linked to Xiaomi’s debut electric vehicle (EV). This incident has sparked widespread concern over autonomous driving technology and vehicle safety. [...]

Social media reports, including a Douyin post by a victim’s mother, claimed the doors locked automatically post-crash, trapping the occupants as the car burned. Xiaomi could not verify door functionality, noting an emergency unlock button exists, but its effectiveness remains unclear. [...]

Xiaomi formed an investigation team on March 30, submitting data by March 31. CEO Lei Jun expressed regret and promised transparency and support for the victims’ families.

The company said it formed a special task force immediately, visited the scene on March 30, and submitted vehicle data to police on March 31. Xiaomi clarified it has not yet been granted access to the accident vehicle, dismissing rumours that it had been transported to Beijing. [...] The cause of the post-crash fire is still under investigation, but Xiaomi believes it likely began in the cabin, not the battery. The company also stated that AEB (automatic emergency braking) did not activate because the obstacle—a water barrier—is not currently supported by the system’s detection capabilities.

Ongoing Investigation

The police investigation continues, examining road conditions, driver actions, and vehicle systems. This tragedy highlights critical questions about autonomous driving reliability, emergency features, and driver training needs in EVs.