Wheels detached due to accident, not component failure - Chery

KUALA LUMPUR: Chery Auto Malaysia has clarified that the damage to the front bumper and the detached wheels of one of its vehicles involved in an accident on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) on Saturday was caused by the collision and not component failure.

In a statement, the company said it was aware of public concerns following the circulation of photographs and video footage of the accident on social media.

"We wish to clarify that the damage to the front bumper and the detached wheels were a result of the accident and not due to a failure of the vehicle's components," it said.

A report by an automotive portal identified the vehicle involved as a Chery Tiggo Cross, which was reportedly involved in a collision with a Perodua Myvi on Nov 7.

Photographs of the incident showed both vehicles damaged in the right lane of the highway, while several wheels belonging to the Chery vehicle appeared to have come off.

However, Chery's statement did not elaborate on how the accident occurred or whether investigations by the authorities had been completed.

The company said its team had contacted the vehicle owner and was providing the necessary assistance.

"We understand that this incident may raise concerns among customers and fuel public speculation.

"Chery Auto Malaysia urges the public not to share unverified information, as doing so could cause unnecessary concern among road users and contribute to the spread of misinformation," it said.

The company stressed that the safety and well-being of its customers remained its top priority.

The Tiggo Cross incident occurred about a month after the Road Transport Department (RTD) temporarily suspended the Vehicle Type Approval certificate for the Chery Omoda 5 following a separate incident in Johor Bahru.

In the October incident, the rear axle assembly of an Omoda 5 was reported to have detached, prompting JPJ to conduct technical investigations and audits into its manufacturing and assembly processes, as well as its component suppliers.

Chery subsequently announced a recall campaign involving selected Omoda 5 variants for inspections and the replacement of affected components at no cost.

However, the latest incident on the NKVE involved a different vehicle model.

Chery reiterated that the Tiggo Cross's wheels had detached as a result of the accident and not due to a failure of the vehicle's components.