Faraday Future Prototype Fire Incident
Faraday Future has found itself in the spotlight again, but for negative reasons. On the morning of September 28, one of the early FF91 model prototypes caught fire at the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. No one was injured, but the building was damaged and is now closed to employees.
Firefighters’ Actions and Consequences
The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call at 4:37 AM and contained the fire within 40 minutes. Sprinkler systems slowed the spread of the fire, but the explosion still damaged part of a wall. After the fire was extinguished, the building was marked as unsafe for use.
Company Reaction and Cause Theories
Faraday Future promptly issued a statement, attempting to reassure the public. They emphasized that the battery pack was not the cause of the fire, and that an old prototype had caught fire. The vehicle, which had the internal name B40, was manufactured approximately nine years ago. The company noted that its materials do not meet the modern fire safety standards of production vehicles.
According to representatives, “this beta prototype is completely different from the production FF 91 models, so we believe this incident will not lead to a recall of production vehicles.”
A full investigation is underway, and it is preliminarily believed that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the building’s electrical wiring or problems with the vehicle’s 12-volt system.
Previous Cases and Context for the Company
This is not the first case of a Faraday Future test car catching fire. In 2022, another prototype also caused a fire, although the details of that incident remained unknown. For a company already facing financial difficulties, such events only amplify doubts about its stability.
The latest incident occurred during a period of instability for Faraday Future. After the unsuccessful launch of the FF91, the company focused on federalization and selling a Chinese van with a screen on the front. Furthermore, the firm has been criticized for cryptocurrency-related initiatives and delays in paying rent for the premises where the fire occurred. The lease term ended at the end of September.
Although the company assures that the fire does not pose a threat to production vehicles, such an event is unlikely to restore confidence from owners, landlords, and shareholders. Further investigations may shed more light on systemic safety problems, especially given past incidents and the financial challenges affecting the electric vehicle manufacturer’s reputation.