Li Auto's New Model at the Center of Scandal After Strange Crash Test with 8-Ton Truck

The Li Auto i8 electric crossover, unveiled in late July, immediately became the center of attention — and not only because of its features. The company released a video of a crash test where the i8 collides with an 8-ton truck at a speed of 100 km/h. The impact was so powerful that all four wheels of the heavy vehicle lifted off the ground. This spectacle caused a resonance and generated a wave of criticism: many doubted the reality of the test and the purposes of its conduct.

Li Auto stated that the i8 demonstrated exemplary passive safety: the body pillars and beams remained intact, the airbags deployed correctly, the doors opened automatically, and the battery did not ignite or leak. However, the logo on the truck's steering wheel was later blurred in the published video — obviously, against the backdrop of a growing wave of negativity.

The truck manufacturer, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motors, quickly responded, accusing Li Auto of copyright infringement and intentional misinformation. The company claims that their equipment was used without permission, and the test conditions do not reflect reality. They even suggested that the suspension could have been modified for effect.

Li Auto, in turn, insists on transparency: the test was allegedly conducted by an independent agency — the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute. They confirmed that all standards were met, the truck was new, and client intervention was excluded.

Nevertheless, the scandal continues to unfold, and at the moment one thing is clear — the image of the truck brand has suffered the most, not the creators of the i8.

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