Xiaomi Responds to Viral “Car Drove Itself” Video — Rules Out Vehicle Quality Problem

Key Points

Investigation outcome (Oct 3): Xiaomi (Xiaomi 小米) matched vehicle backend logs with operation logs from two phones (the owner’s iPhone 16 Pro and the male owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, identifiers iPhone17,1 and iPhone16,2) — timestamps, response times and the parking-out command all aligned, so Xiaomi excluded a vehicle quality issue.
Command origin & activation: The logs show the parking-assist command originated from the male owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max and activated the vehicle to drive out; the feature requires close-range Bluetooth proximity, which the logs also recorded.
Customer-service miscommunication: Support staff confused the device identifier iPhone16,2 with the colloquial model name, producing an incorrect “iPhone 16” statement that fueled public misunderstanding; Xiaomi has apologized and will improve communications.
Practical takeaways: For stakeholders, logs & timestamps matter for credibility — map internal device identifiers to common model names, keep a clear list of phones with control rights, and train support to verify identifiers before statements.

Xiaomi car drove itself is the phrase everyone searched after a viral clip showed a Xiaomi vehicle rolling out of a parking spot.

What Xiaomi (Xiaomi 小米) said

Xiaomi (Xiaomi 小米) posted an official statement on October 3 saying the company took the viral video of a Xiaomi car reportedly “driving away by itself” very seriously.

Xiaomi said it immediately formed a special investigation team and worked directly with the vehicle owner to verify all available logs and data.

After comparing the vehicle backend data with the phone operation logs authorized by the user, Xiaomi concluded that the vehicle’s backend data and the operation logs from an iPhone 15 Pro Max matched — including timestamps, response times, and the parking-out command.

Therefore, Xiaomi has excluded a vehicle quality issue.

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What the investigation reviewed

With the owner’s permission, Xiaomi obtained vehicle backend logs plus operation logs from two phones that had control rights for the vehicle.
The two phones were identified as the female owner’s iPhone 16 Pro and the male owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max; the device identifiers recorded in the logs were iPhone17,1 and iPhone16,2 respectively.
Vehicle backend data shows that, during the time window in question, the car received a parking-assist command originating from the male owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max.
That command activated the parking-assist function and triggered the vehicle to drive out of the parking space.
Xiaomi noted that activation of the parking-assist feature requires the vehicle to be within close Bluetooth range of the controlling phone, which matches the conditions recorded in the logs.

Customer-service miscommunication and apology

Xiaomi explained that an additional source of confusion came from a miscommunication during the online customer-service exchange with the user.

Customer service personnel mistakenly mixed up a device model identifier (iPhone16,2) with the colloquial device name, which led to an incorrect statement that the command came from an “iPhone 16.”

That error caused the user and the public to misunderstand the technical findings.

Xiaomi apologized for the inaccurate information conveyed during that interaction and said it will improve service communication going forward.

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Company stance and next steps

Xiaomi reiterated that user safety and the in-car experience remain top priorities.

The company thanked the public for their attention and said it will continue to refine post‑sale service processes to reduce future misunderstandings.

Quick takeaways for investors, founders, and product teams

Logs and timestamps matter.

The fact that backend logs and phone operation logs matched is critical for any connected-vehicle incident investigation.

Bluetooth proximity rules.

Features like parking-assist that require short-range connectivity introduce clear operational boundaries — both technical and legal.

Customer service is part of the product.

A simple model-identifier mix-up can blow up into a reputational issue faster than a hardware failure.

Transparency short-circuits rumor cycles.

Publishing log-based conclusions, even redacted, is one of the fastest ways for a brand to regain narrative control after a viral claim.

Practical action items for owners and product leaders

Owners: Keep a clear list of which phones have control rights for your vehicle and regularly check connected-device permissions.
Product teams: Map internal device identifiers to common model names in customer-facing logs and support scripts to avoid confusion.
Support orgs: Train agents on how to explain technical identifiers in plain language and confirm device details before public statements.
Legal & compliance: Maintain chain-of-custody and log retention policies for connected-vehicle incidents so investigations are auditable.

Why this matters for the Chinese EV and connected-car market

Connected features are a major differentiator for new entrants and incumbents alike.

When a viral incident suggests autonomous or remote control malfunctions, investor sentiment and consumer trust can swing quickly.

Clear investigation outcomes that rely on cross-validated logs reduce ambiguity and can protect valuations and brand equity.

Companies that combine robust telemetry with frictionless, clear customer communication are best positioned to scale in this environment.

SEO and link opportunities

Reference pages to consider linking to from editorial, PR, or product posts include official statements and regional financial coverage of the incident.

Useful link anchors: official vehicle statement, backend log analysis, customer-service apology, and connected car safety.