Huawei-Backed Aito M9 Bursts Into Flames After Fatal Crash, Raising Safety Concerns

A fatal crash involving a Huawei-backed Aito M9 in China’s Shaanxi Province on Oct. 17 is raising concerns over vehicle safety after the car struck a traffic light pole and burst into flames, killing its driver. Despite the manufacturer attributing the accident to excessive speed and ruled out an autonomous-driving malfunction or battery explosion, netizens are questioning the preliminary findings, particularly the vehicle’s reported speed before impact.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of Chinese luxury vehicles following a series of consumer complaints and controversial safety tests involving other Huawei-partnered models.

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Questions over official findings

According to surveillance footage circulating online, the accident occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m. on October 17 in Shenmu, a city administered by Yulin in Shaanxi Province. The footage reportedly shows the vehicle running a red light while turning left before losing control and striking a square traffic light pole. Flames engulfed the front of the vehicle shortly afterward.

Local police confirmed that the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, died in the accident. On Oct. 21, Aito’s customer service division then issued a statement saying the vehicle was being driven manually at the time of the collision, with its advanced driving assistance system disengaged.

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According to the company’s preliminary findings, the vehicle was traveling at 139.1 kilometers per hour (86.4 mph) in a zone with a 50-km/h (31-mph) speed limit. The company attributed the fire to a severe frontal impact that allegedly caused electrical short circuits and fluid leaks in the engine compartment.

It dismissed online claims of a “battery explosion” and an “autonomous-driving collision” as misinformation, while emphasizing that the final conclusions would depend on the official accident investigation.

However, social media users are questioning whether the vehicle could have been traveling at the speed reported by the manufacturer. “Judging from the video, the speed couldn’t possibly have been 139 [km/h]. It was roughly 50 [km/h] while turning, and at least at the moment of impact, the speed wasn’t high. A collision at that speed, followed by a rapidly spreading fire that prevented the driver from escaping, is unacceptable,” one commenter wrote.

Another questioned the transparency of the findings. “If the data is so precise, why not release the complete accident investigation report and the original data? The more transparent the truth is, the fewer questions there will naturally be,” the user wrote, adding, “When faced with public questions, the most powerful response is not an explanation, but evidence!”

Aito M9 owners report quality concerns

The fatal accident follows renewed discussion of quality complaints involving the Aito M9, a premium SUV developed through Huawei’s partnership with Chinese automaker Seres. On Oct. 11 and 12, complaints from an M9 owner became a trending topic on popular Chinese social media platform, Weibo.

According to circulating screenshots, a blogger identified as Xia Hao, who reportedly received his vehicle in January 2024, described numerous problems, including rust on structural components, a detached radar sensor, condensation inside headlights, malfunctioning displays, and other interior defects.

The owner reportedly questioned whether the vehicle’s development and testing had been rushed to meet production deadlines. Additional complaints listed on Chinese automotive consumer platform 12365auto.com include paint defects, malfunctioning door handles, suspension problems, uneven tire wear, and reported driver-assistance issues.

Brake tests expose problems

Additional concerns emerged on Oct. 8, when Chinese automotive testing platform Dongchedi published footage showing brake-pedal support brackets breaking during emergency braking tests on three Maextro V800 vehicles. Maextro is a luxury automotive brand developed through a partnership between Huawei and JAC Motors.

According to Dongchedi, all three vehicles experienced similar bracket failures during repeated emergency braking tests from 100 km/h (62 mph). The testing platform said the failures occurred at the same location across the vehicles, raising concerns about the component’s structural integrity.

Maextro later acknowledged the test results but said no comparable failures had been reported during normal customer use. The company maintained that its braking system had undergone testing beyond applicable national and industry standards. Nevertheless, it pledged to improve the component’s design, offer free upgrades to existing owners, and review its testing and quality-control procedures.

Calls for stricter testing standards

The controversies come as Chinese regulators seek to strengthen oversight of automotive development and safety verification. On Oct. 10, four government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, released draft measures calling for stricter safety assessments and more comprehensive vehicle testing.

The proposals address concerns surrounding accelerated vehicle development, sometimes described in China as the production of “rush-built cars.” But critics argue that pressure to bring new models to market rapidly can encourage manufacturers to shorten development cycles and rely excessively on computer simulations rather than physical testing.