Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the decline of Xiaomi's brand appeal and consumer trust, highlighting a recent incident involving the Xiaomi SU7 vehicle that exposed serious safety flaws, leading to a significant backlash against the company and its marketing strategies [3][21][28]. Group 1: Marketing and Consumer Perception - Xiaomi's marketing narrative, once captivating, has lost its effectiveness as consumers are now more critical and less willing to buy into emotional stories [3][21]. - The recent presentation by Lei Jun, Xiaomi's CEO, was met with indifference from the audience, contrasting sharply with previous years where such events were celebrated by fans [6][9]. - Consumers are increasingly frustrated with Xiaomi's product delivery and service issues, as evidenced by numerous complaints during the presentation [8][21]. Group 2: Safety and Product Issues - A serious incident involving the Xiaomi SU7, where a vehicle caught fire due to a design flaw in the hidden door handle, has raised significant safety concerns [11][12]. - Industry experts criticized Xiaomi for prioritizing aesthetics over safety, highlighting the absence of physical door handles as a dangerous cost-cutting measure [14][16]. - The SU7's advanced driver-assistance system has also been flagged for reliability issues, leading to a recall of over 110,000 vehicles [16][18]. Group 3: Trust and Brand Reputation - The safety crisis has resulted in a breakdown of trust between consumers and Xiaomi, as reflected in the negative reception of Lei Jun's speech [21][30]. - Xiaomi's attempts to replicate its successful smartphone marketing strategies in the automotive sector have backfired, revealing a lack of understanding of the complexities involved in car manufacturing [23][26]. - The company faces a critical challenge in restoring consumer trust, which requires a focus on delivering safe, reliable products and transparent communication [30].