Chongqing - Videos of Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) safety tests organized by Chinese automotive media, Dongchedi (www.dongchedi.com), recently triggered heated discussions domestically and gained international traction after being shared by Tesla CEO Elon Musk on social media.

In Dongchedi's ADAS test video, the vehicles are undergoing simulations of real highway accident scenarios. (Photo/Dongchedi)

Due to the broad selection of models and complexity of the scenarios, the test is one of the largest of its kind conducted in China in recent years. The test involved 36 mainstream models, spanning over 20 brands, including AITO, Tesla, and Xiaomi Auto, which are currently sold in China; none of them passed all the evaluation scenarios.

The videos simulated 15 typical accident scenarios on real highways and city roads. They included sudden lane changes, road construction zones, large truck obstacles, and unexpected pedestrian crossings, all set against real traffic environments. The models tested were each subjected to every scenario once, with a pass/fail result based on a single attempt.

According to data released by Dongchedi, the overall average pass rate across all scenarios was just 35.74%. Specifically, 47% of vehicles successfully avoided danger in highway night construction scenes involving trucks, while 58% managed to stop safely when a child ran into the road.

A chart compiled by a Chinese blogger revealed that despite no model passing all tests, Tesla outperformed others: its vehicles passed five out of six highway scenarios, the Model X passed eight out of nine urban scenarios, and the Model 3 passed five. In highway scenarios, 15 models recorded zero passes, while one model failed all tests in urban scenarios.

Dongchedi explained that the test was designed as an ADAS educational program to help the public better understand the limitations of driver assistance features. In the video, Lu Guangquan, Secretary-General of the Traffic Safety Technical Committee of the China Intelligent Transportation Systems Association, emphasized the importance of recognizing the limitations rather than solely promoting the safety of such systems.

Public reaction suggested that the test achieved a degree of educational impact. Some viewers acknowledged the progress of ADAS technology but emphasized that driver control remains paramount for safety. Others advocated avoiding vehicles with ADAS features altogether. As of July 30, the video series by Dongchedi has garnered over 9 million views on Bilibili, a Chinese video platform similar to YouTube.

The results, which highlighted performance deficiencies across multiple brands, sparked extensive debate, which might diverge from Dongchedi's original intent of highlighting ADAS technology's functional boundaries and safety limitations. Public discourse has largely focused on comparing the safety performance of ADAS systems across different automakers, gradually evolving into praise for high-performing brands and criticism of those with weaker results.

The controversy also stems from the format adopted by Dongchedi. According to multiple media reports, the platform reiterated that the test was not intended to rank, promote, or discredit any specific brand. The video also emphasized that ADAS is not foolproof and that driver supervision remains essential, with Dongchedi repeatedly reinforcing this message through technical breakdowns and expert analysis. However, the differing number of scenarios passed by each model inadvertently created a perceived performance ranking.

The test methodology has sparked significant controversy. Dongchedi maintained that all vehicles were tested under standardized conditions with a single attempt per scenario. However, critics questioned the rigor of the process, citing issues such as insufficient control of variables and alleged human interference or sensor blockage during some tests. Some even elevated the criticism to national political levels. In response, Dongchedi clarified that the results reflect vehicle performance only in specific scenarios and do not represent the overall capabilities of ADAS.

The test results also drew responses from automakers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk reposted the video on X, commenting that Tesla achieved “the top results” in China despite lacking access to local training data due to regulatory restrictions. In contrast, Tesla Vice CEO Grace Tao, who is in charge of Greater China businesses, responded more gently, stating, “Rankings are not the focus—there is no limit to our pursuit of safety.”

On July 25, Tesla CEO Elon Musk reposted Dongchedi's real-world highway scenario test video, commenting that Tesla achieved "top results in China despite lacking access to local training data due to regulatory restrictions. (Graphic/X)

The test has also stirred up a storm within the automotive industry. While its actual impact on China’s fiercely competitive car market remains to be seen, the strong reactions from industry insiders reflect a recognition of the report’s significant potential to influence consumer choices.

The same day, Huawei-backed automotive brand, Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), including Luxeed, and Aito issued brief statements, acknowledging the test while declining to comment. Huawei has long promoted its autonomous driving capabilities, but vehicles equipped with its system delivered less impressive results in this test.

Vice General Manager of GAC Toyota, Peng Baolin, highlighted that the company's Beyond Zero 3X model passed seven out of nine urban scenarios, achieving a 78% success rate—tied for second place among all tested models and the only electric vehicle in the ¥140,000 price range to reach that level. He reiterated, “Even the most advanced intelligent driving systems are still only driver assistance. Safety must always come first.”

Vice General Manager of Voyah, Shao Mingfeng, noted that the test exposed shared technical bottlenecks within the industry, particularly regarding recognizing non-standard obstacles. He called for mandatory national safety standards, including fail-safe mechanisms like automatic unlocking after collisions and reduced error rates in construction zones. Voyah did not participate in the test.

On the day of the video’s release, CCTV News initially shared the footage on its social media channels with the caption “Joint simulation of real-world ADAS crash scenarios by CCTV and Dongchedi.” The post was later edited to remove the reference to the partnership, leaving only the Dongchedi attribution.

Also on the same day, during a press conference held by the State Council Information Office, Wang Qiang, Director of the Traffic Administration Bureau at the Ministry of Public Security, stated that all “intelligent driving” systems currently installed in vehicles sold in China are still classified as driver assistance and do not constitute autonomous driving. He stressed that drivers remain the ultimate parties responsible for vehicle operation.

Since a fatal crash in March 2025 involving a Xiaomi SU7 using ADAS features, regulatory scrutiny of driver-assistance systems in China has intensified. In April 2025, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a meeting with automakers, urging them to strengthen testing and clearly define system boundaries and safety protocols, while prohibiting exaggerated or misleading advertising.