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Chinese automaker Zeekr, which specializes in premium electric vehicles and hybrids, responded quickly to a video spreading across Chinese social media. The footage shows a Zeekr 7X crossover catching fire while standing at a charging station. According to representatives of the brand, which belongs to Geely, this vehicle had previously been in an accident, and its repair had not undergone proper inspection.
What the video shows
In the published footage, the driver of the 7X is seen leaning over the front trunk while the car is parked at a charging station. However, the SUV was not connected to the charger. Within a few seconds, sparks and flames begin to burst from the underside of the vehicle, and thick smoke rises around it.
At first, it seems the car changed its mind about catching fire. But then sparks reappear from the rear of the body. Flames engulf a significant part of the crossover, and the battery continues to throw out sparks. A witness, presumably the driver, grabs a fire extinguisher and extinguishes the flames.
The incident occurred on Sunday in the city of Ningbo. Local firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, according to CarNewsChina.
Reputation problem and open question
Obviously, the sight of an electric car seemingly catching fire on its own in a parking lot is not the kind of advertising any automaker wants. So Zeekr hastened to reassure owners: a preliminary investigation showed that this 7X had previously been in an accident, and its repair had not been properly inspected at a Zeekr service center.
However, the company has not yet explained what exactly triggered the fire. That said, judging by the nature of the sparks, everything points to the battery.
Zeekr and international expansion
Like many other Chinese brands, Zeekr initially operated only in its home country, but has now begun an ambitious expansion into foreign markets. The company has already entered the Australian market and also appeared in Europe. There it sells its premium electric vehicles and hybrids at prices noticeably lower than comparable models from traditional competitors — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
Now it is important not only to determine the exact cause of the fire in a particular vehicle, but also how quickly Zeekr will be able to answer questions from owners and potential customers. Battery incidents, even if they occur after an accident or poor-quality repair, always attract attention and can undermine trust in the brand. Especially now, when the company is actively building a dealer network in Europe and trying to convince buyers that Chinese premium electric vehicles can be a safe and smart alternative to the German giants.
