Half a month has passed since well-known automotive influencer Chen Zhen was involved in a car accident, where his Rolls-Royce Spectre collided head-on with a BYD traveling in the opposite direction.
On October 18, Chen Zhen sat down for an interview with Legal Daily, where he offered a detailed reconstruction of the accident and, for the first time, revealed its core cause.
According to Chen, he was driving with the assisted-driving system activated, following the car ahead at a speed of 50–60 km/h. As he briefly looked down to pick something up, the car in front of him changed lanes. In that split second, his Rolls-Royce suddenly accelerated to 80 km/h, ran a red light, and veered into oncoming traffic — crashing directly into another vehicle. Data showed that the assisted-driving system was still engaged at the moment of impact, and the brief deceleration before collision was likely a result of the crash itself.
Chen admitted that he had never read the manual carefully and was unfamiliar with the limitations of the intelligent driving system in this rarely used imported car. By contrast, he said, his domestic vehicles offer more stable assisted-driving performance and detailed driving logs to help reconstruct events. In his view, the accident likely wouldn’t have occurred had he been driving a domestic model.
The incident highlights a growing concern — many drivers place excessive trust in assisted-driving systems, while automakers fail to adequately educate or warn users about their operational boundaries.
Chen also disclosed that the damaged Rolls-Royce involved in the crash has since been sold and mentioned he would likely never consider purchasing another vehicle from the brand.
Looking back, the accident first made headlines on October 3, when photos of the crash spread rapidly online, revealing Chen Zhen as the driver involved.
The next day, Beijing’s traffic authority issued a preliminary report concluding that Chen bore full responsibility for the collision. He publicly accepted this finding, apologized to the other party, and vowed to cooperate fully with legal representatives from both sides to resolve the matter efficiently.
Days later, the BYD driver’s family revealed online that the injured victim had suffered multiple fractures. Chen reiterated his willingness to assume full compensation responsibility. However, soon after, the BYD owner’s social media posts were deleted, and the account was deactivated — adding new layers of mystery to an already complex case.
At present, several unresolved issues remain:
- The EDR (event data recorder) report has not been made public, and Rolls-Royce has not commented on the performance boundaries of the Spectre’s assisted-driving system. It remains unclear whether Chen’s explanation aligns with technical facts or if the traffic bureau’s “full responsibility” verdict might later be revised.
- The victim’s family’s silence raises questions — have both parties reached a private settlement? What is the victim’s current recovery status? And what compensation arrangements, if any, have been finalized?
- Chen’s admission of limited understanding about assisted driving reflects a broader industry issue — many drivers are unaware of how these systems truly function, leaving room for dangerous misunderstandings.
Ultimately, this case serves as a sobering reminder. Before using assisted-driving features, drivers must thoroughly study their vehicle manuals and understand system limitations. Even with such technology enabled, one cannot afford to lose focus behind the wheel. Meanwhile, automakers bear an equal responsibility to train users, provide clear risk warnings, and ensure safety through proper communication.
After all, no matter how advanced a system becomes, nothing can replace human attention and vigilance.
So, what’s your take on Chen Zhen’s warning against overreliance on assisted driving? Share your thoughts below — let’s discuss it together.
