Briefing: Tesla catches fire while parked in Hong Kong

Tesla Suddenly Catches Fire in Hong Kong Parking Lot, Times Says – Bloomberg

What happened: A Tesla Model S caught fire in a Hong Kong parking lot on Sunday, requiring firefighters to work for 45 minutes to put out the blaze. No indication as to what caused the fire has been given, and the company did not have an immediate comment on the matter, according to Bloomberg.

Why it’s important: The fire comes less than a month after a Model S spontaneously combusted in a Shanghai parking garage, destroying surrounding vehicles. Just days later, Chinese rival Nio reported one of its vehicles had caught fire while being repaired in the central Chinese city of Xi’an. The fires have sparked concern over the safety of electric vehicles (EVs). Last year, at least 40 new energy vehicles, which include electrics and hybrids, caught fire in China, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. Tesla has previously claimed that its vehicles are 10 times less likely to combust than gas-driven cars.