A large fire broke out early Tuesday morning at a BYD facility in the Pingshan district of Shenzhen, China, targeting a multi-level parking structure used for testing and decommissioned vehicles. Emergency teams quickly brought the blaze under control, and the automaker reported no injuries or fatalities resulting from the incident.
According to reports from La Tercera and BioBioChile, the fire spread through a section of the multi-story garage, sending a dense column of black smoke into the sky. Social media footage showed significant flames and a heavy presence of fire trucks and police at the scene.
BYD clarified that the fire was contained to an area specifically designated for "test and scrapped vehicles," according to Reuters via BioBioChile. The company emphasized that the incident did not affect production lines or vehicles currently being used by customers.
Investigation into cause
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been linked to external construction work being performed at the site. BYD also explicitly ruled out any connection between the fire and battery safety or quality issues in its electric vehicle models.
Despite the localized nature of the damage, the event caused a slight dip in the company's stock prices. Analysts noted that such incidents often trigger sensitivity among investors during the global expansion of electric mobility.
Experts pointed out that fires involving electric vehicles require specific protocols because they behave differently than internal combustion engine fires. These types of blazes can be more difficult to extinguish and prone to reignition due to the nature of the batteries.