Indian Government Investigates Tesla Electric Car Fire Due To Thermal Incident

Electric car catches fire in India. (photo: twitter screenshot)

JAKARTA - India has ordered an investigation into a fire incident involving Tata Motors electric vehicles. This was confirmed by a government official on Thursday, June 23, after the Indian automaker described it as an "isolated thermal incident".

A video on social media, which has gone viral, shows one of the company's electric cars engulfed in flames. The video shows firefighters trying to extinguish a fire in a Nexon electric vehicle (EV) on the outskirts of Mumbai. However, some media have not been able to independently verify the video.

@TataMotors @TataMotors_Cars @TeamBHPforum @NexonEVOwnerClb A nexon ev caught fire in vasai near mumbai. pic.twitter.com/CEQFQosxDg

— Sticky Rice (@K10711988) June 22, 2022

The official said the Defense Research and Development Organization, a government agency, would lead the investigation.

"Detailed investigations are currently being carried out to ascertain the facts of the recent thermally isolated incident circulating on social media. We will share a detailed response after our complete investigation," India's largest electric car maker said in a statement.

Nexon EV caught fire in Vasai.#tatanexon #evonfire #futureisdangerous #serious pic.twitter.com/PP7Eo3C92x

— navjot singh sohal (@naevie007) June 23, 2022

Tata says this is the first such incident, having sold more than 30,000 EVs, most of which are its Nexon models. The incident follows a spate of e-scooter fires that have sparked an investigation by the Indian government.

Initial findings of a federal investigation into three electronic scooter makers, including SoftBank-backed Ola Electric, found faulty battery cells and modules to be the main cause of the fires, Reuters reported last month.

Electrification is a cornerstone of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's climate change and carbon reduction agenda. EVs are also seen as a way to help India cut its oil import bill and reduce pollution in big cities.

India wants electric models to account for 30% of the country's total passenger car sales by 2030. This number is up from around 1% today, and e-scooters and e-bikes account for 80% of total two-wheel sales, up from around 2 %.