Drivers in China have reported that fatigue-monitoring systems in some cars mistake their eyes for being closed, even when they are alert. Complaints have involved XPeng vehicles and the Xiaomi SU7, with owners saying repeated warnings can be triggered by their facial features rather than actual drowsiness.
The issue can have added consequences in XPeng cars. The company’s Navigation Guided Pilot system uses a 100-point driver record to restrict access to assisted driving when it registers behavior such as phone use or distraction. Fatigue alerts can also reduce the score; it is restored to 100 every 12 months, and a driver who reaches zero must pass a safety test to regain access. XPeng owners have described losing points despite saying they were awake, while one Xiaomi SU7 owner shared a video of trying to open his eyes wider to stop the alerts.
The article links the problem to the PERCLOS P80 measure, which is used by Chinese systems and originated in the United States. It assesses how long a person’s eyelids cover at least 80% of their pupils; a fixed threshold may misread naturally narrower eyes. These camera-based systems can operate at night and through sunglasses using infrared, and are increasingly connected to assisted-driving functions. The concern may grow as driver-monitoring systems become more widespread, including in Europe, where such features are moving toward mandatory use.