China Automotive Technology and Research Center Issues Statement on "Collision Test Video of Ideal i8 and Chenglong Motor"

On the evening of August 3rd, China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (China Automotive Engineering) issued a statement regarding the recent online discussion about the "collision test between Li Auto i8 and Chenglong vehicle."

Statement Letter Content as follows:

Recently, China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as China Automotive Engineering) has noticed that the collision test video of the Li Auto i8 released at the Li Auto press conference has caused great reactions and discussions on online platforms, among which some comments have alluded to China Automotive Engineering. The relevant situation is hereby explained as follows.

Test date: June 27, 2025

Test location: Sino-German Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Sichuan Test Base Performance Road

Test object: Ideal i8 (VIN: HLX13B172S1200081)

Test Description: This test project only verifies the safety performance of the Li Auto i8 vehicle. It is not a standard car-to-car collision test and does not involve the safety performance evaluation of vehicles from other brands. The test protocol was developed by the company based on accident patterns typical of traffic accidents on ordinary roads in China, and the tests were conducted by a test team from China Automotive Engineering Research Institute. To create the required traffic accident scenarios, a second-hand truck was randomly purchased from the market as a mobile barrier vehicle, with its curb weight being the sole selection criterion. Before testing, the test team inspected and confirmed the Li Auto i8 sample vehicle and prepared the mobile barrier vehicle by: disguising the exterior (changing the vehicle color from red to white and applying camouflage stickers), installing an autonomous driving device, and adding ballast to reach a total weight of 8 tons.

During the test, the collision speed of the Li Auto i8 was 60±2 km/h, and the approaching speed of the movable barrier vehicle was 40+2 km/h.

After the test, the passenger cabin of the Li Auto i8 showed no obvious deformation, the airbags deployed normally, there was no battery leakage or fire, the doors unlocked automatically, and the door handles popped out automatically. After a high-intensity collision with a mobile barrier vehicle, the driver's cabin structure showed no significant deformation, the overall structure remained intact, and the doors could be opened normally.

The above is the test situation of the entire traffic accident scene simulation. As of the time of writing, China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) has not published any test data, reports, or video materials on any platform or media, nor has it made any official response regarding this incident. In this regard, CATARC appeals to the industry, media, and public platforms to remain objective and rational, jointly maintaining the industry ecology and a clean online environment. Meanwhile, CATARC reserves the right to pursue legal and reputational claims against platforms, individual media, and persons who maliciously misinterpret or misleadingly disseminate information.

As a centrally-administered state-owned enterprise, a national first-class research institute, and a listed company, China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (China Automotive Engineering) has always adhered to a scientific and rigorous attitude, upholding a fair and objective stance in conducting various evaluation activities, and consciously accepts supervision from all sectors of society. In the future, China Automotive Engineering will continue to provide the industry with professional and reliable technical services, empowering the high-quality development of China’s automotive industry with its expertise.