On March 29th, Chinese electric vehicle brand AITO, a joint effort between Chinese automobile company SAIC and tech giant Huawei, has been gaining significant attention. However, a recent accident involving their intelligent large-sized electric SUV M7 Plus has raised safety concerns.
Brand new car
According to Chinese media reports, the incident occurred last Friday (26th) when an M7 Plus collided with a water truck on the expressway in Yuncheng, China, and caught fire. The deceased’s family member, Ms. Ma, stated that the vehicle was only three months old and that the driver was her brother, with her husband and two-year-old son also in the car.
Ms. Ma expressed her suspicion about the car’s safety system, as the airbags did not deploy, the hidden door handles did not pop out, and the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system did not activate. She also questioned why the battery caught fire after being hit.
A video circulating online shows severe deformation of the car’s front end, with some suggesting that the doors were locked, delaying rescue workers from saving the passengers.
In response to the incident, AITO released a statement expressing their deep condolences for the loss of life and offering their sincere condolences to the affected families.
According to data from the national platform, the vehicle’s speed at the time of the accident was 115 kilometers per hour, and the airbags deployed as intended, contrary to the family member’s claim that they did not. The battery pack’s features were also normal.
AITO stated that they are currently cooperating with local traffic police in investigating the accident and providing necessary data to determine the cause. They also expressed their willingness to support the affected families.
The specific investigation results will be announced by the traffic police department in the future.