Electric vehicle fires in Turkey

In late July 2026, an electric SUV ignited while charging at a station in Kayseri, Turkey. The vehicle produced a “bomb-like explosion,” causing extensive damage, though no injuries were reported. Authorities launched an investigation into the cause.

By late August 2026, another significant incident occurred in the Söke district of Aydın, Turkey, where a luxury Mercedes AMG EQE 53 was destroyed by fire while driving. The vehicle, valued at approximately 8 million TL, was traveling from İzmir toward Bodrum on August 22 when the fire, reportedly originating from the batteries, broke out.

Firefighters from the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department utilized specialized equipment, including a next-generation extinguishing tent and a fire blanket capable of withstanding 2,100 degrees Celsius, to contain the blaze and prevent the spread of toxic gases to nearby forested and mountainous areas. The effort to control the fire lasted approximately 12 hours, concluding only after the battery energy was completely depleted. Taner Günhan, Head of the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, stated that in his 30-year career, this was the first time he had encountered a fire of this intensity involving an electric vehicle.