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Chinese electric car maker Li Auto is under scrutiny over quality issues after a Chinese state media outlet reported over the weekend that a new L9 model broke its suspension during a test drive.

Li Auto announced on Monday that it has expanded its warranty terms to guarantee free repairs to the suspension parts on all L9 vehicles. 

Why it matters: The incident could potentially hurt the brand’s public image and impact sales of L9, its highly-anticipated electric crossover.

Details: Li Auto confirmed on Monday to Chinese media that a spring buffer part on one front wheel of an L9 became faulty after it drove over a pothole of 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) at the speed of 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing a day earlier. The automaker didn’t clarify whether the 20-centimeter refers to the width or the depth of the hole.

Context: Li Auto launched the six-seater L9 plug-in hybrid SUV on June 22, with the seven-year-old automaker claiming it provides a state-of-the-art experience to drivers at less than half the price of German-made luxury cars.

Jill Shen is Shanghai-based technology reporter. She covers Chinese mobility, autonomous vehicles, and electric cars. Connect with her via e-mail: jill.shen@technode.com or Twitter: @yushan_shen More by Jill Shen

Every Wednesday and Friday, TechNode’s Briefing newsletter delivers a roundup of the most important news in China tech, straight to your inbox.

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