Luxury car catches fire after overnight charging in Pathum Thani

On August 16, 2026, a luxurious hybrid vehicle valued at over one million baht was engulfed in flames in Pathum Thani province after being left to charge overnight at a residential property. The disaster prevention and mitigation unit of Khlong Sam Subdistrict Administrative Organisation in the Khlong Luang district was informed of the incident at a townhouse in the Khlong Sam subdistrict.

Chief executive Dr. Wirasak Hadda, accompanied by two fire engines, responded to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a white sedan parked near the house with flames rapidly engulfing the passenger area. The fire was swiftly extinguished to prevent it from spreading to the house and neighboring properties, and under control within approximately one hour.

The vehicle's driver's compartment sustained significant damage. The 36-year-old owner revealed he had returned home around 10:00 PM on August 15 and plugged the car in to charge before retiring for the night. Around 8:00 AM the following morning, a security guard noticed smoke emanating from the car, which had not yet reached a severe stage.

He unplugged the charger, retrieved the keys, and opened the vehicle door, only to be met with a thick cloud of smoke, as captured in video footage of the incident. The owner initially speculated that the fire may have originated due to excessive heat from the hybrid battery, but admitted the exact cause remained unknown. He noted that the vehicle's dashboard had displayed no warning signs or error messages prior to the incident.

The owner confirmed the car had been purchased for slightly more than one million baht and had been in use for about two years by him. Considering its previous owner's usage, the vehicle's age was estimated to be around four years. The owner had already notified his insurance provider, as the car was covered under comprehensive insurance.

The insurer reached out to him and began handling the claim. As the incident occurred on a Sunday, he had not yet reached out to the vehicle's service center to arrange an inspection to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage. The owner expressed uncertainty about driving the car again, even if it could be repaired, citing his lack of comfort with the situation.

He planned to await an assessment to evaluate whether the vehicle could be safely repaired and returned to service. The owner stated that he had maintained the car regularly, taking it to a service center for annual inspections and routine maintenance checks. He also noted that the vehicle was equipped with warning systems that should have displayed an error message if any issue arose with the hybrid system or associated components.

However, no warning appeared prior to the fire occurring after the car had been charged, leaving the precise cause of the fire undetermined.