Xiaomi SU7 self-driving system under fire following fatal crash

Xiaomi's inaugural EV has proven a smash hit, and is still reportedly on back-order in its native China nearly a year after its release. It has also contributed to approximately $2 billion in revenue for its maker in 2024, and has warranted the release of a performance-focused Ultra variant.

Now, the SU7 is in the news in China again, albeit for reasons the company might find the least welcome. The car had crashed on a highway located in the city of Tongling in Anhui province, resulting in a fire reportedly claiming the lives of 3 occupants.

The incident, which took place on March 29, 2025, reportedly involves a standard variant of the SU7, which had its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) setting on, reportedly achieving a speed of 72 miles per hour (mph, or 116 kilometers per hour (km/h)) at one point.

The driver reportedly regained control of the vehicle seconds before the crash, which reportedly occurred at ~60 mph (97km/h) following a collided with a guardrail on the road.

The highway was undergoing repairs at the time, apparently causing the car to make an unexpected lane change. 

A definitive link between the NOA system and the incident has yet to be reported at the time of the accident, although Xiaomi has turned the car's system and driving data over to Tongling police.

The company's stock price has also taken a hit as a result of the accident, dipping from ~51 HKD on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 28, 2025 to 44.55 HKD at the time of writing.

The report may also have been particularly poorly timed for a company reportedly gearing up to release its second EV, the YU7, this year.