Xiaomi SU7 ‘goes for a walk’ without driver, sparks safety concerns
On September 30, a Xiaomi SU7 owner in Shandong, China, reported that his parked vehicle suddenly started moving without anyone inside. The case, which quickly drew attention online under the hashtag “Xiaomi car suddenly drives off,” according to Wave News.
According to surveillance footage shared by the owner, the car was parked outside his residence while he and a woman remained indoors. The video shows the vehicle activating and moving forward, prompting the woman to shout in alarm while the owner rushed outside to intervene.
The owner said that he contacted Xiaomi’s customer service immediately after the incident. He said initial explanations from support staff suggested the possibility that a mobile phone had inadvertently triggered a remote-start function. The owner disputed this, stating that his phone was not in use at the time and releasing the full surveillance video to support his account.
Subsequent information shared through industry channels suggested that backend logs indicated an Apple device linked to the owner’s account sent a Remote Parking Assist (RPA) command to the vehicle during the incident. This feature allows the car to automatically move in or out of parking spaces when triggered via the smartphone app. Critics argue, however, that the system should include safeguards to prevent movement when no one is in the driver’s seat.
The case has sparked debate among industry observers over the safety and reliability of remote control functions in smart vehicles. Experts note that while remote features increase convenience, they also require precise fail-safe mechanisms and transparent data disclosure to maintain user trust.
The owner has requested that Xiaomi provide the full original operation logs rather than partial data excerpts. As of October 3, Xiaomi has not released a formal investigation report. The incident caused no injuries or property damage but has intensified discussion over whether current smart car safety systems are sufficiently robust.
