Xiaomi SU7 Ultra crash in Chengdu involving door lock malfunction
A Xiaomi SU7 Ultra crashed and caught fire in Chengdu, and bystanders were unable to open the electronically-controlled doors to rescue the driver, who died at the scene. Police attributed the crash to suspected drunk driving, but the incident raises concerns about door handle design in electric vehicles that fail when power is lost.
What happened
A Xiaomi SU7 Ultra crashed in Chengdu on Monday, colliding with a planted median barrier at high speed and immediately bursting into flames. Bystanders were unable to rescue the driver because the vehicle's electronic door handle system malfunctioned after impact, preventing the doors from opening.
Police identified the driver as 31-year-old Deng and stated he was suspected of driving under the influence when the crash occurred.
Reported impact
The driver died at the scene. Xiaomi's shares dropped as much as 8.7% on the day of the incident, the largest fall since April.
Index analysis
The incident highlights a design problem in modern electric vehicles: flush, electronically-controlled door handles that require electrical power to function. When power is lost during a crash, the door opening mechanism fails, preventing both occupant escape and rescue by emergency responders.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating electronic door handle failures in certain Tesla Model Y vehicles, and a top Chinese regulator is reportedly considering a ban on fully concealed handle designs.
Governance controls
Industry experts note that proper EV fire safety protocols require redundant mechanical door releases that function without power, a basic safety standard that Xiaomi apparently failed to prioritize.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.