- An influential Chinese media outlet has publicly called on Xiaomi to recall the first-generation SU7 to address a door handle safety hazard.
- In a fatal accident last October, the SU7's doors could not be opened from the outside due to a power failure, trapping the driver in the fire and resulting in death.
Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is facing a reputation and safety test in the fiercely competitive electric vehicle (EV) market.
Yicai, one of China's most influential financial media outlets, published an article on Friday publicly calling for Xiaomi to recall about 370,000 first-generation SU7 vehicles to eliminate the risk of doors being unable to open from the outside.
The report cited a recent forensic report indicating that in a fatal crash last October, the doors of Xiaomi's first EV model, the SU7, could not be opened from the outside due to a power failure, trapping the driver in the fire and causing his death.
The forensic report indicated that in the SU7 Ultra collision and fire incident, although the driver was suspected of drunk driving and severely speeding (impacting at 167 km/h), the direct cause of death was the vehicle's combustion, not collision injuries.
A critical detail emerged: the violent collision caused the vehicle's low-voltage system to shut down, instantly disabling the electronically controlled hidden door handles. With no external mechanical emergency mechanism installed, multiple bystanders attempted various methods to open the doors but failed, ultimately preventing rescue.
This design flaw has sparked widespread public concern about the safety of EVs. "Had the SU7 Ultra equipped with mechanical exterior door handles at the time, rescuers would have had a high probability of pulling the driver from the cabin before the vehicle ignited, potentially preventing a loss of life," Yicai wrote.
Production of the first-generation SU7 ended earlier this month, with cumulative deliveries reaching about 370,000 units. The higher-performance SU7 Ultra remains on sale, while the updated SU7 model is slated for launch in April.
The potential safety risks associated with door handles increase the difficulty of escape and rescue efforts during collisions or vehicle fires, and Xiaomi and its founder Lei Jun appear to have recognized this issue, as noted in Yicai's report.
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV (sport utility vehicle) launched in 2025 and the next-generation SU7 have both abandoned the first-generation SU7's design without mechanical exterior door handles.
Although Xiaomi has swiftly adjusted to comply with the latest mandatory national standards set to take effect in 2027, safety concerns remain unresolved for the existing 370,000 vehicles.
Yicai highlighted in its article that an active recall not only demonstrates a company's commitment to addressing issues head-on but also marks a crucial step for internet-born automakers in shifting from marketing-driven to responsibility-driven operations.
Previously, Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI, HKG: 2015) recalled over 10,000 Mega MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles) due to safety concerns, spending more than 1.1 billion yuan to uphold its brand reputation, the report noted.
