Li Auto, CMVR launch joint lab in Chongqing for NEV fire safety

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 28, 2025, Li Auto and China Merchants Testing Vehicle Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. ("CMVR") officially inaugurated a "Joint Laboratory for New Energy Vehicle Fire Safety" in Chongqing and signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

The two parties will collaborate extensively in the field of fire safety for new energy vehicles (NEVs), aiming to reduce fire risks associated with severe collisions, underbody scraping, charging, and electrical faults. The cooperation will focus on the study and application of fire failure mechanisms, characteristics, and thermal diffusion simulation technologies to enhance safety standards and promote the high-quality development of the NEV industry.

CMVR is a nationally recognized automotive testing and certification body with comprehensive capabilities for full-lifecycle testing of vehicles and components. It has built deep technical expertise in NEV safety assessment. Notably, the China Electric Vehicle Fire Safety Index ("C-EVFI"), launched in 2023, is the world's first technical framework covering the full chain of EV fire safety. Widely recognized in the automotive industry, C-EVFI has contributed significantly to improving fire safety performance in NEVs.

At the unveiling ceremony, Li Bo, Senior Director of R&D Quality at Li Auto, and Zhao Yonggang, General Manager of the New Energy and Environmental Division at CMVR, delivered remarks. Li Bo emphasized that "safety is the cornerstone of NEV development and a top priority for consumers. This collaboration will combine Li Auto's practical experience in NEV development with CMVR's expertise in testing and simulation to provide more reliable safety solutions for the industry and end users."

Zhao Yonggang highlighted that the joint lab will establish an integrated platform spanning industry, research, and application, accelerating iteration cycles, expanding safety evaluation metrics, and helping position China's NEV safety technologies at the global forefront.

The lab will also build a high-precision simulation platform using digital twin technology to recreate real-life thermal diffusion scenarios, identify key issues, and enable the rapid implementation of protective solutions, thereby improving overall product performance.

Under the strategic cooperation agreement, the partners plan to release several technical white papers over the next three years, establish ongoing technical exchange and resource-sharing mechanisms, and jointly apply for national-level research projects to promote technology commercialization and standard-setting. Li Auto further disclosed that the lab's outcomes will be prioritized in the development of its next-generation all-electric vehicle models.