A fire broke out at a BYD vehicle garage in Shenzhen Park in the early morning hours of April 14, causing thick smoke and prompting temporary closures and traffic restrictions. The incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
The fire’s impact led to the temporary closure of a nearby school and restricted traffic as emergency services responded. According to the Shenzhen Pingshan District Fire Rescue Bureau, there were no injuries or casualties as a result of the blaze.
BYD released a statement after the fire was extinguished: “A stereo garage in our Pingshan Park caught fire. This garage is a dedicated area for test and scrapped vehicles.” The company said that construction workers unintentionally ignited combustible materials, which started the fire. Initial investigations indicated that electric vehicle batteries were not responsible for starting the blaze, although they may have contributed to the intensity of the smoke.
Despite these findings, some social media users expressed concerns about electric vehicle battery safety following videos of the incident. One user commented: “I wonder what caused it. I’m sure people will assume a battery but you never know.” Another wrote: “A fire at BYD’s own facility is the worst possible advertisement for EV battery safety right now.” However, data cited by Kelley Blue Book indicates that electric vehicles are statistically less likely to catch fire than internal combustion engine vehicles.
BYD stated that its vehicle production should not be affected by this event. Shares of BYD fell by about 0.6% following news of the incident.
Further investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
