Overview

• Chengdu traffic police said a crash at about 3:18 a.m. on Tianfu Avenue South on October 13 led to a vehicle fire and the driver's death, with an investigation underway.
• The vehicle driven by Deng, 31, collided with a car ahead, crossed the central median and ignited, and police said Deng is suspected of driving under the influence.
• Dashcam footage circulated online shows the suspected Xiaomi SU7 Ultra overtaking at high speed before the collision and subsequent blaze.
• Eyewitness accounts report bystanders were unable to open the doors before firefighters cut into the vehicle, a point disputed by Xiaomi customer service, which says the model unlocks upon detecting a collision and defers to the official probe.
• Commentary linked the incident to earlier SU7 controversies this year and reported a sharp same‑day drop of nearly 8% in Xiaomi's share price.