Lei Jun's statement "hitting 60 like hitting 120 against a wall" has sparked controversy—what lessons should companies learn from the physical truth?

Recently, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun’s comments at the launch event for the new SU7 vehicle sparked widespread controversy. When describing crash tests, Lei Jun stated that when two cars traveling at 60 km/h collide head-on, their relative speed is 120 km/h, and the collision energy is equivalent to hitting a wall at 120 km/h, which is 1.44 times the standard test condition. This statement quickly sparked heated discussion online, with many netizens pointing out errors in Lei Jun’s calculation.

Physics experts pointed out that the formula for kinetic energy is one-half times mass times velocity squared. In the case of two cars each traveling at 60 km/h colliding, the kinetic energy absorbed by each vehicle is actually the same as hitting a wall at 60 km/h, not 120 km/h as Lei Jun claimed. Based on the kinetic energy formula, hitting a wall at 120 km/h produces about four times the energy of hitting at 60 km/h. This explanation clarified the doubts raised by netizens and confirmed the mistake in Lei Jun’s statement.

Faced with public criticism, Lei Jun changed his usual attitude and quickly admitted his mistake. This move contrasts sharply with Xiaomi’s past PR strategies in similar situations. Previously, Xiaomi had faced multiple PR crises due to Lei Jun’s misstatements or controversial remarks, but the company often chose to confront netizens directly, which backfired and led to even greater backlash. Over the past year, Xiaomi’s market value has nearly halved from its peak, perhaps prompting Lei Jun and Xiaomi to reevaluate their public relations approach.

Many netizens viewed Lei Jun’s apology as a sign of progress. Previously, he had caused controversy with remarks like “instant stop from 200 km/h,” which were criticized for misleading the public. In comparison, this time Lei Jun chose to honestly acknowledge his mistake, avoiding further escalation of public opinion. Analysts believe that in high-tech fields like automotive manufacturing, any careless statement can seriously damage a company’s image, making timely correction especially important.

Xiaomi’s PR strategy shift has also sparked discussions about how companies should handle public opinion crises. Some believe that businesses should respect consumers and netizens’ reasonable expressions and avoid blaming all criticism on “black PR.” Genuine malicious attacks are rarely so polite, and if a company responds too aggressively, it may ultimately harm its brand and market share. This incident may serve as a reflection point for Xiaomi and other companies: when facing controversy, admitting mistakes and making improvements often earn more public trust than just defending oneself.