- Maextro said it will improve the component’s design and offer existing owners a free upgrade option.
- The brand said no similar failures have occurred in customer use, after Dongchedi reported bracket fractures in emergency braking tests of 3 V800 MPVs.
Maextro, jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), said it will improve the design of its brake pedal bracket base and offer existing owners a free upgrade option, responding to safety concerns raised by a vehicle testing video.
In a statement released on Thursday, Maextro said no brake pedal bracket base fractures had occurred in customer use since deliveries began.
The brand said its braking system was developed and validated throughout the process against requirements exceeding China’s national and industry standards. It described the conditions shown in the video as “non-standard, extreme test conditions.”
Maextro said it wanted to provide a greater safety margin even under such conditions and would further improve the component’s design. It also pledged a systematic review and strengthening of design validation, testing parameters and production quality management.
The response followed a video released earlier today by automotive information platform Dongchedi, which said that brake pedal brackets fractured in all 3 Maextro V800s subjected to emergency braking tests from 100 km/h to a standstill.
According to the video, the bracket in the first vehicle fractured during the third braking attempt, while the second vehicle’s bracket failed on the fourth. A third vehicle, purchased new afterward, experienced the same problem on the second attempt.
The testers said the vehicles’ foot brakes could no longer be operated normally after the brackets fractured, prompting them to use the emergency braking function activated through the Park button to stop. The descriptions of the failures and stopping procedures came from the testers.
The video sparked debate over vehicle safety and testing methods. Some social media users called on JAC to investigate, while others questioned whether repeated heavy braking tests reflected everyday driving conditions.
JAC (SSE: 600418) shares closed down 10.01% today, hitting their daily limit.
Maextro is a luxury brand jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), and the highest-positioned brand in Huawei’s HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) lineup.
The V800 was launched on August 5 as a flagship MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), with prices announced at launch ranging from 766,000 yuan ($113,710) to 1,016,000 yuan. It targets the premium business transport market served by the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM.
All 3 Maextro V800 MPVs tested by Dongchedi suffered brake pedal bracket failures during emergency braking, raising concerns about vehicle safety.
($1 = 6.7367 yuan)
