Fire breaks out at BYD site in Shenzhen; no injuries reported
New Delhi, April 14
A fire broke out at Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD's industrial park in Shenzhen on Tuesday morning, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
According to the company, the blaze originated in a parking garage area used for storing test and scrapped vehicles. The fire was quickly brought under control, and no casualties were reported. BYD's global headquarters is located in Shenzhen's Pingshan district, where the incident occurred.
Visuals from the site showed flames engulfing a large section of the multi-storey structure, as fire trucks and police personnel rushed to the scene. Emergency teams worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further within the facility.
Initial findings from local fire authorities, corroborated by the company, ruled out any battery-related safety concerns. Investigations indicated that the blaze was triggered by improper external construction activity, and there was no evidence of self-ignition or defects in BYD's mass-produced vehicles.
Authorities and BYD sought to reassure the public, emphasising that the incident was operational in nature and did not affect customer vehicles or pose a broader safety risk.
While described as an isolated event, the incident comes against the backdrop of previous reports involving BYD vehicles. These include a fire involving a Qin Pro model in Beijing in 2021, as well as earlier cases reported in Shenzhen, Yantai and Yuncheng in 2020. In another instance in September 2023, a BYD ATTO 3 in Thailand emitted smoke while charging. An investigation later attributed the issue to a damaged wire connected to the 12-volt battery, leading to heat buildup and refrigerant leakage, rather than an actual fire.
The latest incident is unlikely to have a significant impact on BYD's operations, the firm said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The article mentions past incidents too. While they say it's not battery-related this time, it does make you think. As an Indian consumer looking at EVs, brand reputation for safety is everything. One isolated incident is okay, but a pattern is worrying. 🤔
Good to see a quick and transparent response from the company and authorities. They identified the cause (external construction) and ruled out vehicle defects promptly. This is how crisis communication should be handled. Contrast this with how some companies try to hide facts.
BYD is a major player globally. Such incidents, even if minor, can affect consumer confidence. In India, with the push for EVs, we need to ensure our manufacturing and storage facilities have world-class fire prevention systems. Can't afford such scares.
Respectfully, I think the article is trying a bit too hard to connect this to past incidents which have been explained. This was a parking garage fire due to construction work, not a car spontaneously combusting. Let's not spread unnecessary fear about EV technology which is crucial for our future.
The visuals must have been terrifying! Glad the emergency services acted swiftly. It's a reminder for all industrial parks, not just EV companies. A small negligence by a contractor can lead to crores of rupees in damage. Safety first, always!
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