On November 12, 2025, when Chery Automobile's Fengyun X3L was undergoing an extreme test on the famous "Ladder to Heaven" section of Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, the protective rope shackle accidentally fell off, causing the vehicle to slide out of control and crash into the guardrail. After the accident, Chery quickly issued an apology statement, confirming that no casualties were caused and promising to compensate for related losses. This incident not only raised public doubts about the safety of Chery's testing, but also brought the automotive industry's extreme testing safety standards to the forefront.
Chapter 1 Event Review: Shocking Tianmen Mountain
1.1 Test site restoration On the same day, Chery Fengyun X3L was tested for climbing and braking performance on the "Tianti Ladder" section of Tianmen Mountain. This section of the road is famous for its steepness and is known as "one of the most treacherous roads in the world." During the test, the vehicle was fixed by a protective rope, but at a critical moment, the shackle suddenly fell off, and the vehicle lost control and slid about 50 meters before hitting the guardrail, causing severe deformation of the guardrail and damage to the front
On November 12, 2025, when Chery Automobile's Fengyun X3L was undergoing an extreme test on the famous "Ladder to Heaven" section of Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, the protective rope shackle accidentally fell off, causing the vehicle to slide out of control and crash into the guardrail. After the accident, Chery quickly issued an apology statement, confirming that no casualties were caused and promising to compensate for related losses. This incident not only raised public doubts about the safety of Chery's testing, but also brought the automotive industry's extreme testing safety standards to the forefront.
Chapter 1 Event Review: Shocking Tianmen Mountain
1.1 Test site restoration On the same day, Chery Fengyun X3L was tested for climbing and braking performance on the "Tianti Ladder" section of Tianmen Mountain. This section of the road is famous for its steepness and is known as "one of the most treacherous roads in the world." During the test, the vehicle was fixed by a protective rope, but at a critical moment, the shackle suddenly fell off, and the vehicle lost control and slid about 50 meters before hitting the guardrail, causing severe deformation of the guardrail and damage to the front of the vehicle.
1.2 Chery’s Rapid ResponseAfter the accident, Chery immediately suspended testing and launched an investigation in conjunction with relevant local departments. The official statement emphasized that no casualties were caused by the accident, apologized for the damage to the scenic facilities, and promised full compensation. At the same time, Chery announced that it would suspend all similar extreme tests pending the investigation of the cause of the accident.
Chapter 2 Cause of the accident: Technical error or standard loophole?
2.1 The key issue of the protective rope shackle falling off Preliminary investigation shows that the protective rope shackle falling off is the direct cause of the accident. According to analysis by industry insiders, the following issues may be involved:
Shackle quality is not up to standard: There are defects in material strength or workmanship;
Operation error: not fully locked or inspection omissions during installation;
Environmental factors: Tianmen Mountain is slippery and foggy, which may accelerate the corrosion or loosening of metal parts.
2.2 Safety Controversy in Extreme TestingThis accident exposed the safety hazards in automobile extreme testing:
Site selection risk: Tianmen Mountain has a steep terrain. Is it suitable as a testing site?
Insufficient redundancy of protective measures: Is relying on a single protective rope sufficient?
Lack of industry standards: There is currently a lack of unified specifications for testing in extreme environments.
2.3 Expert opinion Li Ming, professor of the Department of Automotive Engineering at Tsinghua University, pointed out: "The purpose of extreme testing is to verify vehicle performance, but safety and redundancy design must be given top priority. This accident reminds the industry that the protection plan for high-risk testing needs to be re-evaluated."
Chapter 3 Industry Reflection and Future Direction
3.1 Impact on the Chery brandAlthough Chery responded quickly, the accident still had an impact on its “technologically leading” image. Consumers may have concerns about the quality of their products and the rigor of their testing. Chery needs to rebuild trust through transparent investigations and subsequent improvements.
3.2 Promote the upgrading of industry standardsThe China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said it will take the lead in discussing the formulation of more stringent limit test specifications, including:
Mandatory multiple protective measures;
Test site risk assessment system;
Third-party safety supervision mechanism.
3.3 Technical Alternatives In the future, virtual simulation testing (such as digital twin technology) may gradually replace some high-risk real vehicle tests, which can not only restore extreme scenarios, but also avoid personal and property risks.
Conclusion
The Tianmen Mountain accident involving Chery Fengyun X3L seemed like an accident, but it actually revealed the automobile industry's neglect of safety management in its pursuit of technological breakthroughs. Starting from the detail of the shackle falling off, the entire industry needs to think about it together: How to find a balance between extreme challenges and safety assurance? Perhaps this incident will be a turning point in promoting a comprehensive upgrade of testing standards.
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