"If it doesn't deploy even in this situation, when will it ever?"… Controversy over non-deploying airbags in XPeng vehicles spreads

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

A serious safety controversy has recently erupted in the Chinese market surrounding the "X9," a flagship pure electric MPV model from XPeng. Despite the vehicle being completely destroyed and deemed a total loss following a major accident, it was revealed that the core safety device—the airbags—did not deploy at all, sparking public outrage among consumers.

According to local media reports, the car owner, identified as Mr. Liu, recently caused an accident while driving an XPeng X9 by hitting a road curb. The impact caused the vehicle to lose control, leading it to collide consecutively with street trees and utility poles before overturning in a major crash. At the time, the front of the vehicle was completely crushed beyond recognition, but fortunately, the occupants escaped injury. An insurance company that investigated the accident scene recommended a total loss (salvage) disposition, stating that the extent of the damage was too severe to be worth repairing.

However, Mr. Liu revealed that while he was extremely fortunate to avoid any casualties, he was deeply shocked by the fact that not a single airbag deployed during such a serious accident. Given that this incident occurred in a top-tier model from a premium brand with a purchase price of approximately 500,000 yuan, he expressed strong distrust in the vehicle's safety, asking, "If the airbags do not deploy even in an accident of this magnitude, when exactly are they supposed to go off?"

In response, XPeng issued an official explanation based on backend data and driving footage. The company stated that the vehicle was in manual driving mode at the time of the accident, and evidence showed that the driver had continuously pressed the accelerator pedal and made sudden steering wheel maneuvers just before the collision. It further explained that this collision did not reach the trigger conditions (activation threshold) for the vehicle's safety airbag sensors, which is why they did not deploy. Additionally, XPeng stated that it would actively cooperate with a third-party appraisal requested by the car owner.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original