An independent investigation is planned to determine the causes of the GAC crossover fire on the M-12 highway. Reports from Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing the Chinese brand’s local representative office, indicate that formal inquiries will assess potential factors behind the incident and any contributing conditions surrounding the vehicle and its operation.
The project for a full technical inspection has not begun yet because the vehicle has not been returned for examination since May 2. The preliminary target date set for expert analysis is May 17. This examination will aim to uncover whether the blaze originated from a manufacturing defect, a fault in the installation of non-standard equipment, or other technical issues related to the car’s systems. The GAC press service conveyed this plan, underscoring the goal of establishing a clear link, if any, between the fire and production or configuration aspects of the vehicle.
The fire involving the Chinese GAC crossover occurred while the vehicle was in motion and occurred before refueling, with the incident first becoming widely reported on May 14, 2024. The sequence of events, as described by witnesses, places the fire at a critical moment during the journey, highlighting the sudden nature of the ignition and its impact on vehicle control and passenger safety.
According to the account, the driver and his spouse were traveling from relatives in Orenburg to Moscow when smoke began to emanate from beneath the hood at a gas station. The driver’s door caught fire immediately, and the driver found it difficult to stop the car as his seat belt became jammed. While the driver attempted to evacuate, he sustained severe burns to the face, arms, and legs, with clothing adhering to the burned areas and hair singed. His wife managed to exit the vehicle, assisted by bystanders, amid a situation that required rapid response to prevent further harm.
Station staff assisted in extinguishing the vehicle, but the front portion of the car suffered extensive damage. The vehicle had undergone maintenance prior to the trip, suggesting that routine checks did not reveal an impending risk of ignition at the moment of the incident. The car was purchased from a dealer about a year earlier, with a listed price of 2.6 million rubles. The driver is receiving medical treatment in a Moscow hospital and is expected to remain hospitalized through the end of the week as recovery progresses.
Earlier reports referenced a separate fire involving a deep blue bus in St. Petersburg, underscoring ongoing concerns about fire safety and vehicle integrity across different models and configurations. This incident adds to a broader discourse on vehicle safety, inspection regimes, and the responsibilities of manufacturers, dealers, and service networks in ensuring that cars entering the market meet stringent safety standards and that any anomalies are identified and addressed promptly through transparent investigations.