Chinese EV Crashes While Climbing Zhangjiajie Stairs... Issues Apology After Accident

Chery Automobile Holds Climbing Event for New Hybrid Vehicle
Apologizes for "Lack of Anticipation of Potential Risks"

Chinese electric vehicle brand Chery Automobile has sparked controversy after damaging a railing while attempting to climb the stairs at Zhangjiajie, a popular tourist destination.

According to reports from Hong Kong media such as Ming Pao and China's central broadcaster CCTV on the 14th, "Chery Automobile failed in its attempt to ascend the stairs of Tianmenshan National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie, slipped, and damaged the railing, for which the company has issued an official apology." Chery Automobile explained in a statement the previous day that "the safety rope fixing part of the test equipment became loose and got caught on the right wheel, hindering movement and causing the vehicle to slip, resulting in damage to the railing."

Cherry Automobile SUV bumped into the railing while climbing the stairs of Tianmenshan in Zhangjiajie. Weibo

The company also apologized for failing to anticipate potential risks, for neglecting detailed management, and for conducting the test at a tourist site, which raised public concern.

According to the reports, on November 12, Chery Automobile held a climbing event for its new hybrid vehicle, the Fengyun X3L, which was launched in September, at Tianmenshan in Zhangjiajie, a "National 5A" tourist attraction, the highest rating in China. The Tianmenshan Stairway is where British car brand Land Rover succeeded in the world’s first ascent with its Range Rover plug-in hybrid model in 2018. The "Stairway to Heaven" leading to Tianmen Cave is about 300 meters long, with a vertical drop of 150 meters, an incline of 20 to 45 degrees, and a total of 999 steps.

On September 21, Chery Automobile Vice President Li Xueyong drew attention from netizens by posting on Chinese social media, "Will we succeed in the Tianmenshan challenge?" and "See you at the top."

Beijing Daily criticized, "Although Chery Automobile used the word 'apology' four times in a single statement, that does not restore the Stairway to Heaven." The article continued, "What Chery Automobile calls a test is actually a marketing strategy," and pointed out that "the follow-up investigation must answer questions such as who reviewed and approved the event, whether it was legal, and whether restoration and compensation can resolve the impact."

The Zhangjiajie City Bureau of Culture and Tourism stated that the operating rights for the Tianmenshan tourist site are held by a private company, so the local government was not responsible for approving the event. The Tianmenshan tourist site is reportedly operated by Ningfa Group, a private company from Tianjin that invested in 2001. The management of Tianmenshan stated that while the Sky Bridge has reopened, the railing has not yet been repaired, and visitors should be cautious for safety reasons.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.