Xiaomi Corporation is cooperating with local police following a fatal accident involving its SU7 electric vehicle in Tongling, Anhui province, China. The company confirmed it has handed over driving and system data for the investigation.
The incident marks the first major accident involving the SU7 sedan, which Xiaomi launched in March 2024, and has been outselling Tesla’s Model 3 on a monthly basis since December.
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While Xiaomi did not disclose the exact number of casualties, Chinese financial publication Caixin reported that the accident resulted in the death of the driver and two passengers. Initial data indicates that the vehicle was operating in the Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) mode before the crash, traveling at 116 kph (72 mph).
According to Xiaomi, the driver took over the vehicle and attempted to slow it down, but the car collided with a cement pole at 97 kph, seconds after the system issued a risk warning about obstacles ahead.
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Local media reports also indicated that the car caught fire following the collision, although Xiaomi did not confirm this in its statement. The SU7 involved in the incident was a standard version without LiDAR, which Xiaomi offers as part of a two-tier smart driving system. The more advanced version of the SU7, which includes LiDAR, provides urban navigation features such as collision avoidance and vehicle recognition.
The incident has raised concerns regarding Xiaomi’s entry into the electric vehicle market, which began in 2024 with the launch of the SU7. As a company previously known for its smartphones, household appliances, and smart gadgets, Xiaomi’s shift to manufacturing electric vehicles has made headlines.