Beijing enlists multiple regulators to probe EV safety issue that raised quality alarms

Beijing has enlisted the assistance of its top internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, to investigate a safety issue concerning Chinese-made electric vehicles. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced a joint investigation team, which includes officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

The team will verify reports of brake pedal failures in tests of the Maextro luxury brand electric vehicle. The authorities have shown close attention to the issue and stated that relevant information will be released in a timely manner. ByteDance-owned car-information platform Dongchedi released a video on October 8 showing brake-pedal brackets snapping on all three Maextro V800 multipurpose vehicles used in an emergency braking test.

The Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily highlighted the importance of strengthened oversight over China's rapidly developed EVs. Maextro has stated that it will fully cooperate with the investigation team. The three-model EV brand, jointly developed by Huawei and JAC, said it will address the brake pedal issue by the end of the month.

The MIIT, along with three other ministry-level departments, published draft rules requiring sufficient vetting measures, including 30,000km of road testing, before new models are offered to consumers.