Epicland X9 SUV catches fire after collision in Taizhou, China

An Epicland X9, a luxury plug-in hybrid SUV developed by Dongfeng and Huawei Qiankun, caught fire following a high-speed rear-end collision in Taizhou, China, on October 28, 2026. The incident occurred when a fully loaded kipper truck struck the stationary vehicle from behind.

According to Zeng Qinglin, CEO of the Epicland brand, all three passengers in the SUV evacuated safely through functioning doors and sustained no injuries. While the rear of the vehicle smoked and caught fire, an internal investigation by the manufacturer revealed that the CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) traction battery remained undamaged and did not explode.

The company stated that the fire originated in the internal combustion engine components, specifically within the fuel delivery system of the range extender, rather than the battery pack. The manufacturer cited the intact battery as evidence of the vehicle’s structural and thermal safety design.