Chery Auto Malaysia has denied that a vehicle involved in an accident on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) lost its wheels due to component failure, insisting the damage was caused by the collision.
The clarification came after photographs and videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing a damaged Chery vehicle with its front bumper and several wheels detached.
In a statement, the company said it was aware of public concerns surrounding the incident and wanted to clarify the circumstances behind the visible damage.
“We wish to clarify that the damage to the front bumper and the detached wheel were a result of the accident and not due to a vehicle component failure,” it said.
An automotive portal identified the vehicle as a Chery Tiggo Cross, which was reportedly involved in a collision with a Perodua Myvi on November 7.
Images from the scene showed both vehicles damaged on the right lane of the expressway, while several wheels from the Chery vehicle appeared to have come off.
However, Chery did not provide further details on how the collision happened 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 cause concern among our customers and lead to public speculation.
“Chery Auto Malaysia urges the public not to share unverified information, as doing so could create unnecessary anxiety among road users and contribute to the spread of misinformation,” it said.
Chery reiterated that the safety and well-being of its customers remained its top priority.
The latest incident comes about a month after the Road Transport Department (JPJ) temporarily suspended the Vehicle Type Approval Certificate for the Chery Omoda 5 following a separate incident in Johor Bahru.
In that October incident, the rear axle assembly of an Omoda 5 was reported to have detached, prompting JPJ to conduct technical investigations and audits involving the vehicle’s manufacturing, assembly processes and component suppliers.
Chery subsequently announced a recall campaign covering selected Omoda 5 variants for inspections and replacement of the relevant components at no cost.
However, the latest NKVE accident involved a different Chery model, with the company maintaining that the Tiggo Cross wheels came off as a result of the collision rather than a failure of the vehicle’s components.
