A dramatic accident between a Xiaomi SU7 and a Tesla Model Y has left social media stunned, with some people questioning if an electric vehicle is still durable and safe to use.
The incident saw the collision of the two EVs in a Chinese tunnel where the Xiaomi SU7 rear-ended the Tesla Model Y. Though both cars were damaged, one car suffered a worse fate than the other.
Tesla Fans Wonder How Model Y Survived a Strong Crash
Tesla Model Y vs. Xiaomi SU7: Shocking Crash in China
@Tslachan via X
Snapshots of the crash were soon making the rounds, particularly among Tesla fans who were quick to point out how the Model Y seemed to have been less damaged than the badly smashed Xiaomi SU7. Three of the photos capture the aftermath in the tunnel itself, and a fourth shows the dented SU7 in sunlight.
Xiaomi, which slammed into the back of Tesla, was heavily broken. pic.twitter.com/mC7egyKF7F
— Tsla Chan (@Tslachan) February 16, 2025
The photos show that the rear bumper of the Tesla Model Y was damaged, while the front of the Xiaomi SU7 was totally crushed. Yet, though some Tesla enthusiasts asserted that this reveals the better build quality of the Model Y, things are not quite that simple.
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Getting to the Bottom of the Damage: Crumple Zones and Safety Design
The Tesla Model Y also seems to have stood the test of time at first glance, but this does not always equal it being the safer car. New electric cars, such as the cheaper Xiaomi SU7, are built with crumple zones—parts of the vehicle that are specifically designed to absorb energy from a collision.
The Xiaomi SU7 has a complex armored cage framework to safeguard occupants, and its front-end crush is a deliberate design to absorb the impact force. The system lengthens the braking time of the vehicle, lessening the chances of major injury.
Conversely, the Tesla Model Y, with its multi-global organization’s highly rated safety record, experienced expected rear-end damage. This is not a common occurrence in rear impacts, since the energy-absorbing features of the vehicle are doing what they are supposed to do.
Are EVs Safe? Here’s the Bigger Picture
This accident might be all about the impact of car crashes even on the most established EV makers, but it’s a reminder that vehicle safety must be understood on a deeper level than mere external damage.
Both Tesla and Xiaomi engineer their vehicles with cutting-edge safety features whose primary concern is protecting occupants, not reducing exterior damage.
Details of the drivers and occupants are still unknown, but the fact that both cars remained structurally intact indicates a high probability of survival, Notebookcheck reports. Furthermore, the crash reaffirms the value of crumple zones and shock absorption in today’s vehicle safety standards.
Safety Beyond Surface Damage
Regardless of the viral comparisons, this accident never shows that either car is less safe than the other. It rather highlights the way modern EVs, from Tesla or Xiaomi, are built to absorb collisions well. A car’s real safety measure does not lie in how it looks after a crash but in its ability to save its occupants.
Soon enough, we will see how the Tesla Model Y Refresh will fare. Maybe the automaker will make it more durable to withstand major impact during crashes.
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