On the evening of August 6, Lixiang Auto, China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor jointly issued a statement addressing the previous test video of the Lixiang i8 overturning the Chenglong truck head during a press conference. Both Lixiang Auto and CATARC apologized for the negative impact on Dongfeng Motor's (Chenglong Auto) brand caused by this test.

Lixiang Auto clarified that the test aimed to verify and improve the passive safety performance of the Lixiang i8, not to target the safety and quality of any other brand's vehicles. For the incident where Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor's Chenglong brand was inadvertently dragged into public controversy, and the insufficient assessment of potential brand association risks, leading to unnecessary negative public opinion and damage to its brand image, Lixiang Auto extends sincere apologies. This misunderstanding also affected truck enthusiasts and the public who have long supported and used Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor products.

Lixiang Auto emphasized that it had no intention to offend or deliberately question the quality and safety of Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor's vehicles. The company will take further measures to avoid similar controversies in the future.

CATARC reflected that as the commissioned execution agency for this test, it failed to promptly and clearly explain to the public that the used Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Chenglong second-hand vehicle was solely used as a "mobile barrier vehicle" that met specific standard requirements during the test. This led to a lack of key information and public misunderstandings, as the test did not constitute an evaluation of the product's safety and quality performance. CATARC apologized for not fully predicting and avoiding potential risks arising from incomplete information disclosure.

This development marks a comprehensive victory for Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor in this public opinion battle. Since the incident, all three parties have responded multiple times, with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor issuing new statements almost daily. Below is a recap of the entire incident.

At the Lixiang i8 launch conference on July 29, Lixiang released several collision videos. One video showed the i8 colliding with an 8-ton heavy truck at a relative speed of 100 km/h. After the collision, the i8's A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, and door beams remained undeformed, while the truck's head was "knocked off." The truck in the video was a Chenglong product, prompting many netizens to question Chenglong's product quality.

In response, Chenglong Truck stated on July 30 that they were already handling the situation and complained about Lixiang Auto's false propaganda in the comment section. Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor issued a statement on the evening of July 31, fiercely condemning Lixiang's testing behavior as a serious infringement and beyond the scope of normal commercial competition.

Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor emphasized that Lixiang's use of specific scenario testing was significantly different from actual operations and had not disclosed critical test details, leading to public misunderstandings and degrading Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor's brand image. The company also highlighted Chenglong Truck's safety features, including its industry-leading keel frame cab and multi-layer energy absorption structure.

Lixiang Auto responded on July 31, clarifying the authenticity and scientific nature of the test, stating that it was based on real user traffic scenarios and fully commissioned to a professional third-party testing agency. Lixiang Auto also emphasized that the test vehicles, equipment, and scenarios were provided by the testing agency.

On July 31, Lixiang Auto's product head challenged Chenglong to a retest, which Chenglong did not accept. China Automotive Technology & Research Center responded the same day, stating that the test complied with all regulations and standards and would not adjust vehicle parameters due to client status. Regarding the truck's source, CATARC said it was a brand-new vehicle but needed to confirm the specific source with the business department.

On August 1, Chenglong Truck published a letter stating that after technical verification and professional assessment, the test scenarios and equipment in the video greatly differed from actual traffic conditions and urged everyone to view it rationally from a scientific perspective. Dongfeng Group's spokesperson also stated support for Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor in safeguarding its rights and interests.

On August 2, Chenglong Truck released a poster with the caption: "Only by being alive are you qualified to talk about ideals," again responding to the recent video controversy. On August 3, both Lixiang Auto and CATARC issued statements clarifying the test's purpose and emphasizing that it was not an evaluation of other brands' product quality.

CATARC provided more details about the test, stating that it only verified the safety of the Lixiang i8 and was not a standard vehicle-to-vehicle collision test. The test was executed based on the need to simulate a traffic accident scenario, using a second-hand truck randomly purchased from the market as a mobile barrier.

During the test, the Lixiang i8 collided at a speed of 60±2 km/h, while the mobile barrier vehicle moved at 40±2 km/h. After the collision, the Lixiang i8's passenger compartment showed no significant deformation, and the mobile barrier vehicle's cab structure remained intact.

However, in the comprehensive test results released by the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, a critical issue of concern to netizens remains unaddressed—whether the truck's cab was locked or not. Earlier, numerous netizens highlighted that heavy truck cabs are equipped with locking mechanisms, and such incidents typically do not occur unless the cab is unlocked. Furthermore, the vehicle utilized in the test by the China Automotive Technology & Research Center was a second-hand truck randomly acquired from the market, rather than the new vehicle mentioned earlier, without any explanation regarding its specific condition.

Regarding the conflicting statements from the involved parties, some netizens proposed that Chenglong Truck directly purchase a Lixiang i8 to replicate the test and thereby prove its innocence. Despite these passionate suggestions, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor has not made any progress on this matter. Nevertheless, on August 3, Chenglong Truck persisted in posting a poster captioned "The backbone of the dragon fears no challenges." Despite the controversy brewing for over a week, the disputes among the three parties have been confined to verbal exchanges, thus preventing the situation from escalating to an irreparable point.