Zeekr 7X catches fire at charger — maker reveals prior undisclosed crash

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A dark green 7X caught fire at a charging station in China’s Ningbo City.

Security camera footage shows sparks and flames emanating from the battery pack.

The driver used a fire extinguisher to keep the flames under control.

Zeekr, one of China’s most popular premium EV and hybrid manufacturers, has quickly reacted to a clip spreading across local social media showing a 7X catching fire while parked at a charging station. According to the Geely-owned brand, this particular 7X had been in a collision beforehand and had never had its repairs inspected.

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In the video, the driver of the 7X can be spotted leaning over the frunk while parked at a charging station, although the electric SUV wasn’t actually plugged in. Moments later, sparks and flames can be seen violently spewing out from the underside, triggering a plume of smoke to fill the air.

Read: Zeekr’s Biggest, Plushest SUV Rolls Into Europe With 897 HP To Take On The BMW X7

For a few seconds, it seems the 7X had decided against setting itself on fire. Then sparks and flames erupt from the rear, swallowing large sections of the SUV as the battery pack keeps throwing off sparks. A bystander, presumably the driver, grabs a fire extinguisher and manages to smother the flames.

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The incident happened on Sunday in Ningbo City, and local fire crews arrived quickly and brought everything under control, CarNewsChina reports.

A PR Problem, And An Unanswered Question

Obviously, the sight of an EV seemingly randomly catching fire while parked isn’t the type of publicity any car manufacturer would want. Zeekr quickly sought to quell fears among owners, stating its initial investigation had revealed this 7X had previously been involved in a collision and that it had not been properly inspected or reported at a Zeekr facility.

However, the company has yet to provide an explanation as to what exactly triggered the blaze, although it certainly looks to be battery-related.

Like so many other brands in China, Zeekr initially launched exclusively in its home country, but it is embarking on an ambitious overseas expansion. In addition to already launching in markets like Australia, it has also arrived in Europe, selling its premium EVs and hybrids at prices that easily undercut similar vehicles from legacy rivals like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

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