FAW Besturn B70 Loses Control on Highway for 490 Kilometers; Manufacturer Approves Refund and Compensation Before Identifying Cause

[Corporate Response] The FAW Besturn B70 allegedly experienced a cruise control malfunction, accelerating uncontrollably for 490 kilometers. The manufacturer agreed to refund the vehicle and provide compensation even before completing its technical investigation.

⚡ Core Development: Compensation Offered Before Cause Is Clarified, Sparking Public Skepticism

FAW Besturn has already approved owner Ma Shihua's request for a vehicle return and paid RMB 45,000 in compensation—significantly higher than its initial offer of RMB 20,000—despite not yet releasing findings on the incident's cause. The involved vehicle has been sealed and must not be moved.

📊 Key Data: Uncontrolled Drive at 115 km/h for 490 km Over 4.5 Hours

On December 17, a 23-year-old driver activated cruise control on his Besturn B70 while traveling on the G75 Lanzhou–Haikou Expressway. The brakes then failed, causing the car to maintain a speed of 115 km/h for 490 kilometers until it ran out of fuel—a journey lasting 4.5 hours. Traffic police and highway authorities escorted the vehicle throughout the incident, and fortunately, no injuries occurred.

🔍 Strategic Insight: Crisis Management Backfires?

Industry experts note that a cruise control malfunction alone typically would not result in total loss of control; multiple system failures would likely be required to replicate such a scenario. FAW Besturn’s preemptive, apology-driven compensation approach is being criticized for blurring accountability boundaries and potentially intensifying public concerns about the safety of intelligent driving technologies.