Latest news with #crash test
ArabGT
6 days ago
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Controversial Crash Test Ignites Dispute Between Two Chinese Automakers
A recent crash test video featuring Li Auto's i8 electric vehicle and the Qinglong truck by Dongfeng Liuzhou Motors has ignited a heated public dispute between the two Chinese automotive brands. The footage, which quickly gained traction online, drew intense scrutiny due to the dramatic visuals and the implications for vehicle safety and brand credibility. Dongfeng sharply criticized the video, accusing Li Auto of misrepresentation and questioning the authenticity of the test. The focal point of the controversy was a startling moment during the crash, where the Qinglong truck's front end visibly lifted off the ground, its front section buckled, and the truck's cab appeared almost detached as it landed atop the i8's hood. In response, Dongfeng released an official statement on August 1, condemning the test setup and defending its engineering integrity. According to QQ News, Dongfeng claimed that the video was 'seriously misleading,' arguing that it distorted reality and failed to reflect conditions typical of real-world collisions. Internal evaluations from the company reportedly found clear discrepancies between the test's design and regulated crash test standards. Behind the Crash: What Really Happened? The incident involved a direct impact between the Li Auto i8—an electric SUV weighing between 2,580 and 2,610 kilograms—and Dongfeng's 8-ton Qinglong truck. At the moment of impact, the i8 was traveling at 60 km/h (37 mph), while the truck was moving at 40 km/h (25 mph). Despite the mismatch in mass and size, the i8's safety structure remained intact. The front end absorbed the shock, the pillars showed no deformation, all nine airbags deployed as intended, and the doors automatically unlocked with the handles extending for emergency access. Additionally, the vehicle's emergency communication system activated, and notably, the underbody battery pack—despite being scratched by a sharp metal object during the test—showed no signs of smoke or combustion. The Bigger Picture: Marketing or Safety? Dongfeng's frustration may be rooted in broader industry dynamics. With Chinese automakers expanding aggressively into global markets, reputations for safety and engineering reliability are more critical than ever. Companies are increasingly using high-profile crash demonstrations as marketing tools to underline their vehicles' toughness and technological prowess. Li Auto's test was part of a campaign to showcase the durability and advanced safety features of the i8, an electric model with a growing reputation. However, staging a crash with a heavy-duty truck has introduced new questions—not only about engineering, but also about the ethics and transparency of such marketing strategies. The fallout from this clash is still unfolding. As both companies continue exchanging statements, the viral video remains a point of discussion across social media, fueling debates about crash test standards, their real-world validity, and the fine line between promotion and manipulation in the auto industry.
Fast Company
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fast Company
U.S. auto safety agency to cut more than 25% of employees
A crash test model is displayed on the floor of the New York Auto Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 29, 2018. [Photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters, File] BY Listen to this Article More info 0:00 / 2:19 The U.S. auto safety agency is shedding more than 25% of its employees under financial incentive programs to depart the government offered by the Trump administration, according to data provided to Congress seen by Reuters. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the Transportation Department, is shrinking from 772 employees as of May 31 to 555 under the program. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration are also both losing more than 25% of their staff. Representative Rick Larsen, top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, expressed concerns about the cuts, questioning how USDOT can 'expedite project delivery and advance safety with a decimated workforce.' Overall, USDOT is losing just over 4,100 employees dropping from nearly 57,000 to 52,862, with the Federal Aviation Administration shedding 2,137 and falling from about 46,250 to 44,208. Subscribe to the Daily Company's trending stories delivered to you every day SIGN UP Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the department did not cut any safety-critical employees and is actively seeking to add air traffic controllers. USDOT and NHTSA did not immediately comment. It is unclear if the Transportation Department still plans to conduct a layoff program on top of the early retirement departures. NHTSA has a number of ongoing investigations into advanced driver assistance systems and self-driving vehicles involving Tesla, Alphabet's Waymo and other companies. Consumer advocacy groups on Thursday urged lawmakers to drop proposed cuts to NHTSA's budget, including cutting its operations and research account by over $10 million 'harming the agency's ability to conduct rulemaking, enforcement actions, and research and analysis.' It would also cut nearly $78 million of supplemental funds from the $1 billion 2021 infrastructure law. Groups said they were 'particularly concerned that such funding cuts may lead to further firings or forced retirements, which have decimated NHTSA.' —David Shepardson, Reuters The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
