Maextro looks into V800 brake issue

Maextro, an ultra-luxury electric vehicle brand, has pledged free component upgrades after brake pedal brackets fractured in three V800 vehicles during tests by automotive platform Dongchedi, sparking debate over vehicle safety and testing methods.

The platform released the test footage on Thursday, showing three Maextro V800 vehicles undergoing braking performance tests from 100 kilometers per hour to a standstill. All three suffered brake pedal bracket fractures, occurring on the third braking attempt for the first vehicle, the fourth for the second, and the second for the third.

Maextro responded that evening, saying that no fractures of the brake pedal bracket base had occurred during customer use since deliveries began and that its braking system had undergone development and validation exceeding national and industry standards.

"Even under nonstandard, extreme test conditions we still want to provide users with a greater margin of safety," Maextro said in a statement, adding that it will further refine the component's design and offer a free upgrade to customers who have already taken delivery of their vehicles.

Developed by JAC Motors in partnership with Huawei under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, or HIMA, the V800 model is Maextro's luxury multipurpose vehicle launched in August.

However, Dongchedi rejected suggestions that the tests involved extreme conditions or excessive force. "Braking from 100 km/h is among the most basic vehicle performance tests and reflects situations drivers may encounter on highways," the platform said.

It argued that during a normal test of this kind, the braking system should not fracture, regardless of how hard the pedal is pressed.

"This is the first time a brake pedal bracket has fractured in our tests over the years," an employee from the platform told China Daily, adding that similar fractures occurring at the same location in three consecutive tests could indicate a potential safety risk.

The debate also reflects a broader tension in the new energy vehicle industry, said Guo Tao, an angel investor and senior artificial intelligence expert.

"Mandatory vehicle approval tests and extreme tests conducted by independent media operate under two different frameworks. The former determines whether vehicles qualify for market entry, while the latter focuses more on exploring performance limits. Their assessment criteria and loading cycles may thus differ," Guo said.

Although extreme test results do not directly establish risks in everyday use, automakers should promptly release their investigation data, Guo said, adding that product safety remains the foundation of brand credibility as Chinese automakers move upmarket.

Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said brake pedals are critical to driving safety, while the reasonableness of testing boundaries also deserved scrutiny.

Cui noted that manufacturers' validation results and external test findings should both be put into consideration. Independent assessments should be fair and credible, with sufficient evidence to support the validity of their methods.

Consumers should also consider information from various sources when buying a car and should not be swayed by a single voice, he added.

Amid the controversy, JAC Motors' Shanghai-listed A-shares fell by the daily limit of 10.01 percent to close at 24.72 yuan ($3.69) on Thursday, before hitting the limit again at 22.25 yuan, down 9.99 percent, during trading on Friday morning.

The company said on Thursday that it was investigating the situation and conducting further tests, and would issue an official statement once results were available.

lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn