Xiaomi’s CEO and chairman, Lei Jun, recently shared that the past month has been the most difficult period since founding the company in 2010, following a tragic crash in China involving the autonomous-driving feature of a Xiaomi SU7, which resulted in the deaths of three people. In a Weibo post, Lei expressed his feelings of distress, revealing that he had canceled meetings, business trips, and distanced himself from social media for a time. He explained that, while he had been extremely busy over the past few years, this time he had the chance to reflect and take a step back.
Although Lei did not directly address the fatal accident in his post, it followed weeks of intense public criticism over the safety of Xiaomi’s autonomous driving technology. Lei, who has more than 26 million followers on Weibo, posted significantly less in April, with just 21 posts, mostly official company updates, a stark contrast to his more frequent sharing in late March. Despite his silence, he revealed that he received numerous supportive messages, which helped him regain the courage and confidence to continue moving forward. His post quickly gained attention, becoming the top trending topic on Weibo.
The scrutiny surrounding Xiaomi increased after the SU7 crash in Anhui province, where the vehicle was traveling at 116 km/h with the driver-assistance system engaged. The system reportedly only alerted the driver to take control two seconds before the car collided with a barrier. Analysts have since pointed out that the crash exposed a lack of understanding of the capabilities of navigation-on-autopilot technology in China, where most self-driving systems are classified as Level 2 or Level 2+. These systems still require the driver to remain in control at all times.
The Chinese government has yet to legalize Level 3 autonomous systems, which allow for hands-free operation, and in April, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology summoned representatives from 60 companies to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The Ministry warned against overstating the capabilities of driver-assistance systems. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers also urged its members to improve safety and avoid exaggerating technological claims.
Xiaomi launched its first EV, the SU7, in March 2024, marking the company’s entry into the automotive industry. Lei has referred to the EV initiative as “the last entrepreneurship of my life.”
READ MORE: