Xpeng X9 Airbags Fail to Deploy in Crash

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Xpeng X9 is reported to have an airbag-system problem after its airbags failed to deploy in a crash that left the vehicle so badly damaged that an insurance company in China declared it uneconomical to repair.

CarnewsChina reported on Monday that the vehicle struck a kerb, causing the driver to lose control. It then hit a tree and an electricity pole before overturning.

The front of the vehicle was severely damaged, but no one was injured.

The owner, identified as Liu, questioned why the safety system had not activated given the extent of the damage.

The driver reportedly continued pressing the accelerator and made a sharp steering manoeuvre before the impact.

The manufacturer said the collision did not meet the threshold required to activate the airbag sensors. XPeng also said it was willing to co-operate if the owner requested an independent third-party inspection to investigate the matter.

The incident has again highlighted the importance of evaluating electric vehicle safety systems, particularly airbag activation mechanisms, which depend on the characteristics of impacts detected by sensors.

The Xpeng X9 is a seven-seat electric MPV first marketed in January 2024. In November 2025, the model also gained an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain option.

The issue is also associated with potential air leakage in the front suspension, attributed to variations in the manufacturing process, which could affect vehicle handling in certain conditions.

XPeng said it would replace affected front air-suspension components free of charge. However, the cause of the airbags’ failure to deploy in this latest crash still requires further investigation.