AsianFin -- Li Auto, the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor issued a joint statement on August 6 addressing the recent controversy surrounding the crash test of the Li Auto i8. The three parties announced they had reached a consensus on clarifying the situation and jointly called for industry self-discipline.

Li Auto stated that the purpose of the crash test was to verify and enhance the passive safety performance of the Li Auto i8, emphasizing that the test was not intended as a comparison or critique of any other brand’s vehicle safety or quality.

CATARC acknowledged shortcomings in its procedural oversight, admitting it failed to anticipate and mitigate potential risks arising from incomplete information disclosure during the test’s publication process. The organization issued a formal apology for the oversight.