A China-based XPeng X9 owner says the electric MPV’s airbags did not deploy in an October 15 crash that left the vehicle beyond repair. The driver, identified as Mr. Liu, reportedly hit a curb, lost control, struck a tree and a utility pole, then rolled over. The front of the vehicle was heavily damaged, but nobody was injured. His insurer recommended scrapping it after an inspection. Liu said he bought the X9 about two years ago for nearly 500,000 yuan (around US$74,600).
XPeng told a reporter that vehicle data and driving video indicated the X9 was in manual mode before the crash, with the driver continuing to press the accelerator and making a sharp steering input. The automaker said the impact did not meet the sensor conditions for airbag deployment. It also said it would cooperate with Liu’s request for an independent third-party appraisal.
The X9, XPeng’s first MPV, began sales in January 2024 as a seven-seat battery-electric model priced from 359,800 to 419,800 yuan. An extended-range version followed in November 2025, with prices starting at 309,800 yuan. The model has also been subject to a separate air-suspension issue: in July, China’s market regulator published a recall covering 33,473 vehicles made from August 2023 to August 2025. XPeng said it would replace affected front air-spring assemblies free of charge. China recorded 15,805 X9 sales from January through September 2026.