Summary
– Tragic incident involving AITO M7 electric SUV resulted in three deaths after the vehicle caught fire following a collision
– Family claimed braking system failed to activate and doors wouldn’t open, trapping passengers inside
– AITO M7 collided on highway in Shanxi Province, driver and two family members died
– Sister of driver claimed AEB and GAEB did not function, airbags did not deploy
– AITO responded by stating airbags and power battery pack were functional, cooperation with local transportation agency’s investigation and removal of family statements and accident footage under official supervision; Huawei plans to expand OS business and install 100,000 ultra-fast chargers in China.
Article
The promotional material for the AITO M7 electric SUV has been overshadowed by a tragic incident in which three family members lost their lives following a collision. The vehicle, branded as Huawei’s E-vehicle AITO, caught fire after the accident, leading to concerns over safety. According to reports, the braking system failed to activate during the collision, and the doors would not open, trapping the passengers inside.
The incident occurred on a highway in Shanxi Province, China, on April 26, when an AITO M7 collided with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of the driver, his 2-year-old nephew, and his brother-in-law. The brother-in-law was thrown from the vehicle and died instantly, while the driver and the child were unable to escape due to malfunctioning doors. The driver’s sister claimed that the car’s safety features, including the Automatic Emergency Braking system and airbags, did not function at the time of the accident.
In response to safety concerns, AITO stated that the vehicle’s airbags and power battery pack were functioning normally at the time of the accident. They emphasized that the specific cause of the incident would be determined by the relevant authorities and that they were cooperating with the investigation. The company urged that any official announcements should be based on the transportation agency’s official release. Additionally, there are reports that family members’ statements and accident footage are being removed from the internet under official supervision.
The AITO electric SUV models were launched in partnership with Chinese company Seres, equipped with the Huawei Operating System. Despite the record-breaking sales of 50,000 units within 27 days of launch, Huawei has expressed plans to withdraw from car manufacturing. Instead, they aim to focus on expanding their OS business and installing over 100,000 ultra-fast chargers across China. The company’s reputation has been marred by the recent incident, highlighting the importance of prioritizing safety in the development and production of electric vehicles.
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