Recently, a driverless Li Auto (Lixiang/Ideal) car was caught on video speeding at 120 miles per hour on a highway while a TV drama titled “Furious” played on the passenger seat. The footage, posted by a netizen from Zhejiang province, sparked heated discussions and calls for a crackdown on such irresponsible behavior. Traffic police authorities have responded, stating that they will investigate the incident.
This dangerous stunt is not an isolated incident, as Li Auto has previously expressed firm opposition to such actions and reminded owners that their vehicles’ assisted driving is not autonomous driving.
In the viral video, the camera captures a person sitting in the rear seat of the Li Auto car, with the vehicle’s speedometer displaying 120 kilometers per hour. The driver’s seat is unoccupied, except for a water bottle wedged on the steering wheel to mimic a driver’s grip. Beside the driver’s seat, a man is seen watching the TV drama “Furious.” In the video, a woman exclaims, “Look at Li Auto! It’s so amazing. It’s driving itself, and we’re just enjoying the show in the back!”
The IP address of the person who posted the video indicates that they are from Zhejiang. In the comments section, they call for strict action against such car owners. Other netizens who shared the video pointed out that Li Auto cars are equipped with assisted driving, not fully autonomous driving technology.
According to reports, the road signs visible outside the car window indicate that the vehicle was traveling on the S3 highway, heading towards Anyue, Sichuan, and Chongqing, with another highway interchange ahead leading to the S40 highway. Based on this information, it is likely that the video was shot on the Chongqing-bound section of the Chongqing-Chengdu Expressway, close to the Tongjia Interchange.
In response to the incident, Li Auto representatives emphasized that their assisted driving feature requires the driver to remain in the driver’s seat and keep their hands on the steering wheel. They also assured that their team would provide a specific response regarding the circulated video. Relevant authorities from the Sichuan Highway Patrol also confirmed that they will conduct an investigation.
Similar incidents have occurred before. In 2021, a car owner posted a video showing them lying flat inside a Li Auto ONE car with both driver and passenger seats reclined.
At that time, Li Auto responded through their official Weibo account, stating that they were aware of cases where owners misused the assisted driving system while employing unsafe devices. They firmly opposed such behavior and urged all owners to use the assisted driving system correctly.
Li Auto emphasized that the assisted driving system should only be used while wearing a seatbelt and with both hands on the steering wheel. The steering wheel is equipped with force sensors, which can trigger visual and auditory warnings to remind the driver to take control. If the driver fails to take over the steering within a certain time frame, the system will automatically disengage and disable the assisted driving function. Li Auto also stressed that their assisted driving is not autonomous driving and urged owners to drive safely and cherish life.
Industry experts suggest that some car owners may have deceived the system by using seatbelt buckles and power-assisted steering devices to simulate hands on the wheel, achieving a driverless appearance. In the aforementioned video, the driver’s use of a water bottle to hold the steering wheel appears to be a makeshift solution.
Apart from the video mentioned above, another video emerged on the evening of the 19th, showing another driverless Li Auto car traveling on the highway. Li Auto has reiterated its strong opposition to such reckless actions that disregard the safety of oneself, family, and all other road users, and has requested people not to circulate such illegal videos.