The first generations of electric vehicles were sold as a manifesto of technological optimism: minimal mechanics, maximum intelligent design. But the tragedy in Chengdu exposed the hidden side of this aesthetic. According to local authorities, after the Xiaomi SU7 collided with another vehicle, the car caught fire, and the doors with electronic handles failed to open. Bystanders were unable to pull the driver out – he died on the spot. Just hours after the footage went viral, Xiaomi shares plunged almost 9 percent. For the first time in a long while, the market did not react to revenue or delivery numbers but to a fundamental question: can you trust a smart machine in a moment of chaos?
At YourNewsClub, we cannot overlook a major shift – safety is once again becoming a marker of technological maturity, not just another feature in a keynote presentation. YourNewsClub risk architecture analyst Owen Radner notes: Electronic handles became a symbol of sleek innovation, but in a fire they turn into a digital lock. When aesthetics override access to survival, it’s no longer innovation – it’s a systemic risk.
This is why Chinese regulators are now considering banning electronic door systems without analog fallback mechanics, while in the US a federal investigation has been launched into 174,000 Tesla Model Y units after similar failures were reported.
This is not the first time Xiaomi faces scrutiny over the SU7 safety protocols. Earlier this year, another crash questioned the logic of its autonomous driving algorithms, already making a dent in the company’s market cap. But this case became a turning point – it reshaped the narrative around automated EVs. YourNewsClub interface architecture analyst Maya Renn emphasizes: When a vehicle becomes fully digital, every action – from opening a door to supplying air to the cabin – becomes a software function. It is convenient until the exact minute when the electronics are gone.
It is telling that the crash reportedly involved drunk driving, yet public outrage focuses not on human error but on the system denying people the ability to intervene. This is a psychological shift: users are culturally conditioned to accept human failure, but they will not forgive an algorithm that locks out manual control when seconds decide everything.
In response, China is actively tightening its regulatory stance. Lawmakers are discussing mandatory mechanical emergency access systems for all EVs equipped with electronic door controls. If implemented, the industry will be forced to abandon its visual language of minimalism in favor of functional engineering. Tesla has already faced such scrutiny in the US, and Xiaomi now risks being perceived as a brand repeating the mistakes of pioneers without their reservoir of trust.
From our perspective at YourNewsClub, the next wave of competition in the EV sector will not be about acceleration or range figures but about transparency and predictability of failure scenarios. Manufacturers must begin implementing dual control layers – digital and mechanical – with mandatory demonstration under real crash-test conditions, not just animated simulations. Investors should also note that this regulatory wave around safety can shift the market hierarchy faster than the natural pace of product updates.
The EV market has reached a maturity threshold: electronics no longer need to be beautiful – they need to be accessible at the exact moment when everything is on fire. And as we consistently underline at YourNewsClub, the first manufacturer to embed safety as a structural principle, not a submenu function, will be the one to secure real user trust – the kind that is not always reflected in stock prices, but ultimately defines them.