Chinese Auto Blogger Detained Over Xiaomi SU7–Zeekr 007 Crash Test Video; Trial Opens With Not-Guilty Plea

A viral crash video and a courtroom denial

A Chinese automotive blogger with roughly one million followers has been detained after posting a collision test video featuring the Xiaomi (小米) SU7 and the Zeekr (极氪) 007, according to IT Home (IT之家). A court reportedly opened proceedings today, where the blogger denied the charges. The case crystallizes a tense question in China’s red-hot electric-vehicle market: where is the line between consumer safety scrutiny and reputational harm?

What is known—and what isn’t

The video showed a private crash test pitting the two high-profile electric sedans against each other, IT Home reported. Authorities subsequently detained the creator, and prosecutors brought the case to court. Specific charges have not been publicly disclosed; it has been reported that the allegations relate to potential violations tied to online content and corporate reputation. No verdict has been announced.

The EV backdrop

Xiaomi (小米), best known globally for smartphones and consumer electronics, entered China’s EV fray in 2024 with the SU7, a launch that drew massive domestic attention and waitlists. Zeekr (极氪) is a premium electric brand under Geely (吉利), whose 007 sedan targets tech-forward buyers. China has formal crash-testing regimes—such as China-NCAP and the Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI)—but influencer-led “independent” tests have surged on social media, sometimes without manufacturer coordination and with unclear methodologies.

Why it matters

The episode underscores mounting scrutiny of online automotive content in China, where authorities police misinformation and companies defend their brands amid brutal EV competition. Is this about safeguarding public order—or about control over how safety narratives are shaped? As Chinese EV makers push into global markets, the transparency and credibility of safety testing—whether official or third-party—will be closely watched by consumers and regulators far beyond China.