There’s nothing better than an electric car - just look at the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra! How sick is that? Nah, just kidding. April Fools. Nothing can replace a combustion engine. Before I even think about buying an EV, I’d have to own several other cars first. But let’s be honest - some electric cars are seriously impressive. Whether it's Rimac, Tesla, Xiaomi, or Porsche, some of these machines are out of their minds when it comes to performance.
Take the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, for example. The phone manufacturer’s first-ever mass-production car beat the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT at the Shanghai International Circuit, setting a faster lap time by 1.336 seconds. The Taycan Turbo GT completed its lap in 2:11.28 minutes, while the SU7 Ultra crossed the line at 2:09.944 minutes. That’s seriously impressive - especially from a company that was making smartphones and rice cookers just a few years ago.
And the numbers don’t lie. The SU7 Ultra packs a monstrous 1,548 hp and 1,770 Nm of torque, launching from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.0 seconds. Meanwhile, the Taycan Turbo GT, with 1,019 hp and 1,340 Nm, is still incredibly fast - but at 2.2 seconds, it’s still 0.2 seconds slower than the Xiaomi.
But just as Xiaomi was celebrating its success, tragedy struck.
Deadly Xiaomi SU7 crash raises serious concerns
On the night of March 29, a Xiaomi SU7 was involved in a fatal accident in the Anhui province of China, resulting in the deaths of three women. According to Xiaomi, the car was using its "NOA" (Navigation on Autopilot) system when it approached a construction site. Moments before impact, the system switched to manual mode and alerted the driver. However, despite attempts to brake, the car crashed into a barrier at 97 km/h and soon burst into flames.
Xiaomi has since handed over all vehicle data to authorities, but major questions remain:
• Did the NOA system react too late?
• Was the handover to the driver too abrupt?
• Could the driver even regain control in time?
Even more concerning, the three occupants reportedly couldn’t escape the burning car. Social media has been flooded with videos of the wreckage, showing the fully burned-out remains of the vehicle. Chinese media outlets are questioning whether the doors locked after the crash, potentially trapping the passengers inside. So far, Xiaomi has not responded to these claims.
Xiaomi’s rocky road into the automotive world
Xiaomi only entered the automotive market in 2024, but the SU7 quickly became a bestseller in China, even outselling the Tesla Model 3. Despite its commercial success, Xiaomi’s driving assistant system has faced criticism since day one. Unlike Tesla’s Autopilot or BYD’s navigation systems, Xiaomi’s NOA struggles with poor road markings and chaotic traffic conditions - and this fatal crash has only intensified concerns.
Xiaomi’s stock takes a hit
Even before the accident, Xiaomi’s stock was already declining. On March 27, shares were at 54 HKD, dropping to 50 HKD by Friday. After news of the crash broke, Xiaomi's stock continued to plummet to 46.50 HKD. The market’s reaction shows that investors are losing confidence, fearing that this accident could damage Xiaomi’s reputation and sales.
The bigger picture: Are semi-autonomous systems safe enough?
This crash is more than just a tragic accident - it reignites the global debate about semi-autonomous driving technology. How much can we really trust these systems? Are they truly ready for real-world use, or are they just marketing gimmicks that create a false sense of security?
One thing is certain: This accident has put Xiaomi, its NOA system, and the entire EV industry under the microscope. As authorities investigate, Xiaomi will have to answer some very tough questions - and EV enthusiasts will be watching closely.
What do you think? Are semi-autonomous systems safe enough, or is this just another reminder that humans should always be in control?
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