Rushed Testing by Automakers Sparks Surge in Brake-Related Crashes

Recent revelations of industry malpractices show that some automakers have drastically shortened vehicle development and testing cycles to accelerate new model launches. A chief software engineer at a leading automaker disclosed that a new architecture, which previously required two years for integration, is now being deployed in vehicles within just 10 months. Verification of the vehicle’s control software has been reduced from four months to only two weeks, resulting in severely insufficient real-world testing. In more serious cases, one automaker knowingly pushed an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) with a known safety flaw—delayed braking—citing the ability to deliver fixes via over-the-air (OTA) updates. This decision led to a sharp rise in collisions, ultimately forcing the responsible executive to resign. Similar issues have also surfaced in the Li Auto MEGA and XPeng P7+ models. The former was linked to a fire incident due to inadequate validation, triggering a recall costing over RMB 1.1 billion; the latter faced a large-scale recall over a defect causing the steering wheel to lock unexpectedly. Regulators have begun tightening automotive development standards, prompting the industry to re-evaluate its aggressive vehicle development practices.