高速上一小车刹车失灵，以115km/h狂奔490公里，开了4个半小时至燃油耗尽！司机要求退车退款，厂家回应

Core Viewpoint - A serious incident involving a car's cruise control malfunction has raised significant concerns within the automotive industry regarding safety and electronic control systems [1][5][17]. Group 1: Incident Details - On December 17, a small car in Gansu experienced a cruise control failure, maintaining a speed of 115 km/h for 490 km until it ran out of fuel, ultimately requiring police assistance to stop safely [1][13]. - The driver, Ma Shihua, reported that he was unable to deactivate the cruise control despite following instructions from the dealership [6][18]. - The vehicle, purchased for over 130,000 yuan (approximately 18,000 USD), was only a year old, and the driver is seeking a refund and compensation for mental distress amounting to 50,000 yuan (approximately 7,000 USD) [20][22]. Group 2: Industry Reactions - The incident has sparked considerable debate within the automotive sector, with some experts suggesting that the cruise control malfunction could be due to a failure in the electronic control system [5][12]. - The manufacturer claims that over 1 million units of the vehicle have been sold without prior reports of similar issues, indicating that this may be an isolated case [10][22]. - There is a call for third-party investigation into the incident, as the driver fears potential tampering with the vehicle by the manufacturer [23][24]. Group 3: Technical Insights - Industry professionals have noted that cruise control systems typically have safety redundancies, allowing drivers to disengage the system by pressing the brake pedal [12][24]. - Various potential causes for the malfunction have been identified, including brake switch failures and issues with the throttle or ABS systems [24]. - Current standards for adaptive cruise control systems are under revision, emphasizing the need for multiple emergency shutdown options to enhance safety [24].