A police bulletin issued by the Xuwen County Public Security Bureau

Xiaomi Automobile on Friday responded to a collision on April 5 involving its SU7 Standard Edition vehicle and an electric two-wheeler in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province, saying that a fire following the accident was caused by the severe squeezing and deformation of the electric two-wheeler's lithium battery.

In a statement posted on its Sina Weibo account, Xiaomi said the incident occurred on the morning of April 5 when a Xiaomi SU7 Standard Edition, driven manually by a non-owner driver, collided with an electric two-wheeler on Provincial Highway 376 in Xuwen county's Qujie town, in Zhanjiang. The driver fled the scene after the crash but was later arrested, according to the latest police update. 

"We are deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the accident," the company said.

Xiaomi noted that on-site investigations have been completed, with the final conclusion pending an official report from relevant authorities. Preliminary findings indicate the fire started after the electric two-wheeler's lithium battery was severely squeezed and damaged after the collision, spreading to the car.

A police bulletin issued by the Xuwen County Public Security Bureau on Friday said that at approximately 5:00 am on April 5, a 25-year-old man surnamed Chen was driving a car through a section of Huahai Farm in Qujie town when he collided with an electric two-wheeler traveling in the opposite lane. 

The collision resulted in the two people on the electric two-wheeler dead at the scene, while the car caught fire and burned, the police said.

Chen initially fled but later surrendered to police. He has been arrested on suspicion of the crime of causing a traffic accident, with the investigation ongoing, the police said.

The accident followed another fatal one involving a SU7 EV on the Dezhou-Shangrao Expressway on the night of March 29, which reportedly killed three people. Local news media nfnews.com reported that the casualties were caused by the locking of vehicle doors upon collision and a battery fire that ensued, citing individuals who identified themselves as relatives of the victims. Xiaomi Automobile earlier posted a statement on its Sina Weibo account, responding to six questions regarding the accident.

Regarding the March accident, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun expressed his deepest condolences, saying that the accident is still under investigation and pledging that the company will continue to cooperate with the police investigation.