The controversy began after Dongchedi released a video on October 8, claiming that the brake pedal bracket of the Maextro V800 snapped during emergency braking tests from 100 km/h to 0. The incident quickly gained public attention.
Yuan Yongbin, chairman of Bethel Automotive Safety Systems, stated that a normal driver cannot exert enough force to break a brake pedal. He argued that the test driver applied lateral force, causing the pedal to snap under abnormal conditions, whereas national standards require the pedal to withstand 200 kg of frontal pressure for 5 seconds.
Maextro responded by stating that its braking systems are developed according to standards exceeding national requirements (GB 21670-2025, GB 7258-2026) and industry benchmarks (QC/T 788-2018). The company reported no such failures in real-world usage since the first deliveries.
Despite the test conditions, Maextro announced plans to optimize the pedal design to provide higher safety margins. The company will offer free upgrades to existing owners. Bethel, a major supplier in the Chinese braking market, continues to support high-standard development protocols.
