dexinwin Xiaomi founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun has responded to a recent test-drive accident involving the company’s Pengcheng vehicle, revealing an unexpected detail: the customer involved in the incident placed an order for the same model the very next day.
During a livestream on September 21, Lei said the customer appeared to have become nervous while making a turn and accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. The vehicle then left the lane and drove onto a roadside greenbelt. No one was injured in the incident.
The accident occurred on the evening of September 8, shortly after Xiaomi officially introduced the Pengcheng lineup. A video showing a test-drive vehicle climbing onto a greenbelt quickly circulated online, prompting discussion about whether the incident could have been related to a vehicle malfunction or safety issue.
Xiaomi issued a statement early on September 9, saying that the customer was attempting to give way to another vehicle while turning at an intersection. According to the company, the customer became nervous and mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. Xiaomi said there were no injuries.
Lei provided additional details during his latest livestream.
According to his account, the customer may have become nervous while turning around and accidentally stepped on the accelerator. The vehicle subsequently climbed onto the roadside greenbelt.
Lei also said the customer was surprised by the vehicle’s ability to climb over the relatively high edge of the greenbelt. The customer reportedly estimated the obstacle at roughly 30 to 50 centimeters high.
The most unexpected part of the story came afterward.
Lei said the customer still considered the Pengcheng a good vehicle after the incident and completed an order for one the following day. The customer also reportedly apologized for the trouble caused by the test-drive accident.
The incident had attracted considerable attention because the Pengcheng lineup had only just entered the market. Xiaomi unveiled four models on September 7: the Pengcheng N70 Pro, N70 Max, N90 Max and N90 Max Explorer Edition. Their launch prices ranged from 209,900 yuan to 299,900 yuan.
The accident therefore occurred only one day after the new vehicles were unveiled, making it one of the earliest widely discussed incidents involving the new product line.
Xiaomi has characterized the event as a human operating error rather than a vehicle malfunction. Lei reiterated during the livestream that the vehicle’s safety architecture, braking system and driver-assistance functions had undergone testing, while describing the incident as an accidental mistake during the test drive.
At the same time, Xiaomi said it would further improve its test-drive procedures, including customer training and staff guidance, in an effort to reduce the possibility of similar incidents.
For any new vehicle, test-drive incidents can quickly attract public attention because they raise questions about braking, handling and overall safety. However, a single incident does not by itself establish the broader safety performance of a vehicle, just as one customer’s decision to purchase the car afterward cannot substitute for professional safety testing or long-term user data.
Lei Jun’s latest comments nevertheless add an unusual twist to the story. What initially appeared to be a potentially damaging test-drive incident ended with the customer deciding to buy the vehicle.
As Xiaomi expands its automotive business, the Pengcheng lineup will face a much longer period of real-world testing and consumer evaluation. How the company manages test-drive safety, product reliability and customer experience will likely remain an important part of its development in the automotive market.
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