Electric Mercedes-Benz catches fire while charging in South Korean apartment garage, residents evacuated
An electric Mercedes-Benz caught fire while charging in an underground parking lot beneath a 15‑story apartment complex in Suwon, South Korea, prompting the evacuation of residents and a large emergency response. Authorities say the exact cause is still under investigation, and the specific model has not been disclosed.
According to local officials, the fire began at about 8:04 am and spread to three nearby vehicles. Nineteen firetrucks and 57 firefighters were dispatched. Crews used an EV fire blanket to bring the blaze under control in under an hour, and the fire was fully extinguished by 10:16 am. No fatalities were reported, though a building employee was treated for smoke inhalation.
This marks the second high-profile incident in the country involving an electric Mercedes-Benz in recent months. In August 2024, an EQE sedan that was not charging ignited in an underground garage in Incheon, damaging or destroying more than 140 vehicles. That event intensified discussions among policymakers about stricter safety regulations for battery-electric vehicles.
Despite the heightened attention, data continues to show EV fires are comparatively rare. Electric cars are reported to be 60 times less likely to catch fire than gasoline vehicles, according to Fire Statistics. Tesla has also stated that its fleet experienced one fire per 135 million vehicle miles driven between 2012 and 2023.
As investigators work to determine what triggered the Suwon fire, EV owners are reminded to follow manufacturer charging guidance, use certified charging equipment, inspect cables and connectors for damage, and avoid charging in areas with inadequate ventilation or obvious fire hazards. These common-sense practices, combined with continued improvements in battery management and emergency response tools like fire blankets, help keep risks low even as electric vehicle adoption accelerates.
