🔥 Difficult rescue: Bystanders’ attempts to help failed because the car doors couldn’t be opened due to the malfunctioning electronic door mechanism. Firefighters had to use heavy equipment to cut open the vehicle.
đź”’ Design flaw: The Xiaomi SU7 uses modern but problematic electronic door handles. In the event of an accident or power failure, these handles are inaccessible. This safety issue has been repeatedly criticized, especially as such flush-type handles are becoming widespread in many modern EVs.
⚖️ Regulatory response: The Chinese government is now considering new regulations requiring all electric vehicles to have manual door openers that work without power in emergencies. This demand has grown louder after similar incidents, including one involving Tesla.
📉 Stock price drop: The accident also had financial repercussions for Xiaomi: The company’s stock fell by 8.7%, marking the biggest drop since April.
🚨 PR disaster
Delayed response: Xiaomi didn’t react until two days after the incident, sparking widespread criticism of its crisis communication.
Livestream comments: Xiaomi’s livestreams were flooded with comments like “door handle doesn’t work,” “junk car,” and “who buys this?” In some cases, stores had to end the streams to avoid the attacks.
Social media: On platforms like Weibo, the brand faced harsh criticism. Many users demanded an immediate review of the vehicle’s technology. A hashtag on the topic garnered more than a million views.
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