Brake pedal brackets fractured in all three Maextro V800 MPVs subjected to repeated emergency braking tests, and JAC's shares closed down 10.01% the same day, hitting their daily limit on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

The test results, published Thursday by automotive information platform Dongchedi, triggered a swift response from Maextro, the luxury brand jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC). The brand said it will improve the design of the brake pedal bracket base and offer existing owners a free upgrade option.

In a statement, Maextro said no brake pedal bracket base fractures had occurred in customer use since deliveries began.

What did the tests show?

Dongchedi ran emergency braking tests from 100 km/h to a standstill on three V800s. According to the video:

• The bracket in the first vehicle fractured on the third braking attempt.
• The second vehicle's bracket failed on the fourth attempt.
• A third vehicle, purchased new afterward, showed the same failure on the second attempt.

The testers said the foot brakes could no longer be operated normally after the fractures, forcing them to stop the vehicles using the emergency braking function activated through the Park button. Those descriptions of the failures and stopping procedures came from the testers.

How did Maextro respond?

Maextro defended its engineering while committing to changes. The brand said its braking system was developed and validated against requirements exceeding China's national and industry standards, and described the conditions in the video as "non-standard, extreme test conditions."

Even so, Maextro said it wants to provide a greater safety margin under such conditions and will further improve the component's design. It also pledged a systematic review and strengthening of:

• design validation,
• testing parameters,
• production quality management.

The statement confirmed no fracture cases in customer vehicles since deliveries started — a claim that now rests on field data as deliveries continue.

Why the market reacted sharply

JAC (SSE: 600418) shares closed down 10.01% on the day of the video's release, hitting their daily limit. The selloff reflects the stakes around Maextro, the highest-positioned brand in Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) lineup.

The V800 launched on August 5 as a flagship MPV, priced from 766,000 yuan ($113,710) to 1,016,000 yuan. It targets the premium business transport segment served by the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM.

The video also split public opinion. Some social media users called on JAC to investigate, while others questioned whether repeated heavy braking from 100 km/h reflects everyday driving conditions.

What to watch next

Watch for the timeline of the redesigned bracket and the free upgrade program, any field failure reports as the V800 fleet grows, and whether JAC or regulators open a formal investigation. The next concrete signal will likely be Maextro announcing when the upgraded component reaches both production and existing owners.

($1 = 6.7367 yuan)