The incident occurred in the city of Chaozhou, a historic urban center in Guangdong Province, situated in southern China. Authorities and local witnesses are continuing to piece together what happened that day and how the events unfolded on the road.
According to multiple observers, the electric vehicle from the Tesla brand appeared to lose steady control of its steering, surging forward with an acceleration that suggested the car was moving at a very high rate of speed. Some videos circulating on social networks show the vehicle maintaining rapid pace, raising questions about how the car’s systems were functioning in real time.
As recounted in various media reports, there is a debate about whether the driver attempted to brake during the moment of crisis. The video footage makes it difficult to clearly identify brake lights or confirm that the braking system was engaged. In the days following the incident, Reuters cited statements from the driver’s family alleging brake failure, while Tesla has issued public statements denying those claims and emphasizing that a definitive determination would require a formal investigation.
In what investigators describe as an uncontrolled mode, the vehicle reportedly traveled for roughly two kilometers before colliding with two motorcyclists and two cyclists. Tragically, two people were killed and three others sustained injuries. Local law enforcement and investigative teams are reviewing telemetry data, vehicle logs, and eyewitness accounts to determine the factors that contributed to the crash and to assess whether any vehicle automation features were involved or affected by external conditions.
At present, the root causes of the malfunction remain unclear. Tesla has stated it is participating in a joint inquiry with local police authorities, aiming to establish a comprehensive understanding of the sequence of events. The investigation is expected to consider a broad set of variables, including the performance of autonomous driving software, driver input, road conditions, vehicle maintenance history, and any potential sensor or system anomalies that could influence safety outcomes.
- In a separate but related context, a different incident involving Tesla in 2020 also drew attention in China when a sudden autopilot activation occurred. In that case, the driver reportedly exited the vehicle before any further harm occurred, prompting ongoing discussions about driver readiness and system safeguards.
- The broader conversation around vehicle autonomy and safety features continues to be a topic of public interest, with social platforms hosting discussions and information sharing across communities in China and beyond.
Video material related to the incident has appeared on platforms such as YouTube and regional technology outlets, contributing to a growing collection of footage that researchers and the public use to analyze how such situations unfold in real time. As investigations move forward, authorities have emphasized the importance of accuracy and verified information to avoid misinterpretation or rumor as new details emerge.