Zhikua Self-Driving Car, Promising 360-Degree Obstacle Detection, Couldn't Avoid Utility Pole

Zhikua, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, promoted its self-driving technology capable of detecting obstacles in 360 degrees, but a collision with a utility pole occurred. A customer purchased the 9X plug-in hybrid vehicle for its LiDAR sensors, which claim to provide 360-degree environmental awareness, but the car's front collided with a utility pole after purchase. Zhikua attributed the accident to the pole's rounded shape causing LiDAR laser scattering, affecting obstacle detection. The company sold 9,058 units of the 9X in May.