Fatal Xiaomi SU7 Fire Raises Concerns About EV Door Safety After Driver Trapped Inside

The southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu witnessed a tragic incident involving a Xiaomi Corp. SU7 electric sedan on Monday, raising fresh concerns about electrically powered door handles in EVs.

Following a collision, bystanders were unable to open the vehicle's doors to rescue the driver before the car erupted in flames. According to police reports, the accident, which resulted in the death of the motorist, was likely caused by drunk driving.

While authorities did not explicitly identify the vehicle model, Chinese media coverage and videos circulating on platforms such as Weibo indicated it was a Xiaomi SU7. Footage captured the vehicle consumed by fire after the crash, showing spectators' unsuccessful attempts to save the driver.

The incident triggered a significant market reaction, with Xiaomi's shares plummeting as much as 8.7% on Monday—the largest drop since April—before partially recovering. The company has not yet provided an official response to the situation.

Police investigations revealed that the driver, a 31-year-old man identified as Deng, was suspected of operating the vehicle while intoxicated when he collided with another car and crossed over a planted median before his vehicle caught fire. Tragically, Deng perished at the scene.

This fatality follows another deadly incident involving a Xiaomi SU7 EV on a Chinese expressway months earlier, which also negatively impacted the company's stock and raised serious questions about smart-driving technologies in newer vehicles and EV door handle safety.

The accident has intensified scrutiny of certain EV door handles that become inoperable when vehicles lose power. In September, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a defect investigation into specific Tesla Model Y handles, while Chinese regulators are reportedly considering prohibiting fully concealed handle designs.

On Weibo, social media users have expressed concerns about the electrically powered door handles on Xiaomi models and other electric vehicles. Although manual release mechanisms exist for emergencies, their locations vary across different models and can be difficult to find for those unfamiliar with the vehicle, or inaccessible to emergency responders outside the car.

The US investigation announcement followed a Bloomberg News report that uncovered multiple incidents in which individuals were injured or died after being unable to open Tesla doors following power loss, particularly after accidents.

While this latest incident may temporarily pressure Xiaomi's stock, Kenny Ng, a strategist at China Everbright Securities International, suggests that the police statement indicating driver error could help limit the decline.

"The current softness in the overall market adds to the pressure, which could further impact the stock in the near term," Ng noted. He added that Xiaomi continues to make steady progress in EVs and smartphones, with its long-term fundamentals remaining intact.

"Investors might find an attractive entry point if shares retreat toward the 250-day moving average," he concluded.