A tragic accident involving Xiaomi’s SU7 electric vehicle (EV) occurred on March 29 in Anhui Province, China. The vehicle collided with a concrete guardrail, resulting in the deaths of all three occupants. Multiple Chinese media outlets, such as China Daily, reported that the vehicle’s Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) feature was active at the time of the incident. This tragic event has reignited concerns about the safety of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies.
NOA Failure to Decelerate Leads to Collision and Vehicle Fire
The accident took place at approximately 10:44 PM in a highway construction zone in Tongling, Anhui Province. The SU7 reportedly traveled at 116 km/h (72 mph) when the system detected an obstacle and initiated deceleration. Despite the driver’s manual intervention, the vehicle struck the guardrail at 97 km/h (60 mph). The impact caused the vehicle to burst into flames, resulting in catastrophic damage and the loss of all occupants’ lives.
The NOA system in Xiamoi’s SU7 is classified as a Level 2 ADAS, which can control steering, braking, and acceleration. However, constant driver supervision and readiness to take control are required. Xiaomi has heavily promoted the NOA feature since the SU7’s launch, setting ambitious sales targets of 137,000 units for 2024 and 350,000 for 2025.
String of Similar Incidents Raises Concerns Over Driver Misunderstanding of ADAS Capabilities
This latest incident has intensified scrutiny of ADAS effectiveness and driver responsibility. Two other high-profile crashes occurred in 2023: one involving a Huawei-Ceres vehicle in December and an NIO vehicle in August, both resulting in casualties while operating under assisted driving modes.
Industry experts are voicing concerns about the potential for drivers to misinterpret Level 2 ADAS capabilities as fully autonomous driving. They stress that these systems are designed to assist, not replace, human drivers. “There’s a critical need to align marketing messages with the actual capabilities of these systems,” said a leading automotive safety organization spokesperson. “Drivers must understand that their attention and readiness to intervene are still essential, even with advanced driver assistance features.”
Regulatory Discussions Expected to Intensify Following Recent Accidents
While the Chinese government has been promoting autonomous driving technology as a key area for future growth, these incidents will likely accelerate regulatory discussions. Discussions may soon intensify around enhancing technological reliability, refining testing protocols, and clarifying legal liabilities associated with ADAS and autonomous driving technologies.
Authorities are still investigating, and Xiaomi has not stated what caused the accident. This tragedy highlights the need for ADAS safety measures, clear communication about system limitations, and thorough driver training. The incident will likely impact autonomous driving technology development in China and globally.
