A Chinese automobile manufacturer has issued an apology following the failure of their SUV to replicate the viral Range Rover ‘Stairway to Heaven’ stunt, resulting in a crash through a guardrail. Chery, one of the largest automotive producers in China, has committed to covering the costs associated with the damage inflicted on the guardrail.
Here’s what transpired
An SUV from the Chinese automotive firm Chery endeavored to ascend the staircase at Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in an effort to imitate the renowned stunt performed by Range Rover.
The orange SUV nearly succeeded in reaching the summit before it began to slide down the ancient staircase, which has a 45-degree angle — ultimately crashing through a segment of the guardrail and coming to a halt.
What was Range Rover’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ stunt?
In 2018, Land Rover brought the Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid (PHEV) to Tianmen Mountain in China as part of a marketing initiative aimed at showcasing its capabilities. During this stunt, the Range Rover Sport attempted to conquer the daunting “Stairway to Heaven” — a series of 999 steep stone steps that rise at a 45-degree incline.
The successful execution of this stunt garnered international attention, highlighting the engineering prowess behind the Range Rover Sport PHEV.
Regrettably, the SUV from Chinese automaker Chery was unable to successfully perform the stunt. The vehicle slid down the steps and damaged a section of the guardrail while attempting to ascend the “Stairway to Heaven” at Tianmen Mountain.
In a statement shared on Weibo, Chery Automobile expressed its apologies for the incident.
The company clarified that the mishap occurred due to the unforeseen detachment of the safety rope’s fixing point on the test vehicle. This malfunction caused the rope to entangle around the right wheel, resulting in a loss of engine power. Consequently, the vehicle descended the steps and collided with the guardrail, causing damage to a part of it.
“Fortunately, this incident did not result in any personal injuries or harm to the natural environment,” the statement indicated.
The company also expressed regret for the damage inflicted on the renowned tourist destination and committed to its complete restoration.
“The incident has highlighted our inadequate evaluation of potential risks and shortcomings in detail management during the planning and execution of this test. We particularly reflect on the public concerns raised by our decision to conduct the test in a public scenic area,” it stated.
