Fire destroys 3,000 EVs in Vietnam

Columns of smoke at a workshop fire at the Vietnam-Japan Electric Vehicle company in Lang Son. PHOTO: THE STAR & BEAT LANG SON

HANOI (AFP) – A huge fire at a factory in northern Vietnam destroyed 3,000 electric bikes and motorbikes on Friday, state media said.

Thick smoke rose from a warehouse belonging to the DK Vietnam-Japan Electric Vehicle Company in Lang Son City after the fire reportedly broke out around 7am on Friday. Several explosions were heard.

Over 2,000 electric motorcycle components were also destroyed in the flames, state media said.

Husband of the company’s founder Hoang Van Khoi confirmed to AFP there had been a fire but did not elaborate. The fire started on the second floor of the parts warehouse and spread to other floors and adjacent workshops, according to state-owned VTV.

The DK Bike electric vehicle production facility spans over 3,000 square metres and includes areas for production, assembly, parts and a showroom for finished vehicles.

The fire has now been mostly extinguished, and authorities are investigating the cause.

DK Bike is a Vietnam-Japan joint venture, according to its website. The company specialises in manufacturing bicycles, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and 50cc small-displacement motorcycles.

Columns of smoke at a workshop fire at the Vietnam-Japan Electric Vehicle company in Lang Son. PHOTO: THE STAR & BEAT LANG SON