Maextro, a joint brand by Huawei and JAC, has addressed reports of brake pedal bracket fractures in its V800 luxury minivan. The issue was identified during emergency braking tests conducted by the media outlet Dongchedi, where the pedal failed at 100 km/h. Testing revealed that the peak force applied reached 1,612 N, debunking claims of excessive stress on the components.
Technical analysis pointed to design flaws, including insufficient reinforcement ribs and the positioning of the pedal center 130 mm from the pivot axis. The V800 is a seven-seat EREV with a 65 kWh CATL battery and a 390 kW dual-motor system. Despite its luxury status and price range of $114,250 to $151,540, the vehicle's structural integrity has come under scrutiny.
In response, Maextro announced plans to optimize the brake pedal design and provide free upgrades for existing owners. The company stated that 181 units were delivered in August 2026 and asserted that no such failures have occurred in real-world operation. Maextro maintains that its testing protocols already exceed national standards GB 21670-2025 and GB 7258-2026.
The incident has sparked broader discussions regarding the shortened development cycles in the Chinese NEV industry. Experts suggest that rapid market competition may be impacting vehicle testing phases. Other manufacturers, such as Voyah, have since publicly highlighted the durability of their own braking systems to reassure consumers amid these quality concerns.
