BYD Qin Plus PHEV Catches Fire After Multi-Vehicle Collision in China

A BYD Qin Plus DM-i plug-in hybrid vehicle was engulfed in flames following a three-vehicle collision on July 17 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. The two occupants managed to escape the vehicle through a window in time, but the car was ultimately destroyed by the fire. According to the Kim Nguu District Traffic Police, the incident occurred on the Third Ring Road. The Qin Plus DM-i caught fire immediately after the collision and was reduced to a burnt-out shell. Videos of the blaze have circulated widely on social media, though authorities have not yet released an official conclusion on the cause of the fire. The car's owner, identified as Mr. Ha, reported that he and the passenger were momentarily disoriented after the impact. Mr. Ha stated that while the front airbags and curtain airbags deployed, the car doors became jammed, preventing escape. They were forced to climb out through a window just moments before the flames spread throughout the cabin. Mr. Ha also mentioned that the fire appeared to originate from the rear of the vehicle immediately after it was struck forcefully from behind by another car. However, this account is from the involved parties and does not represent an official technical conclusion. Police have not disclosed information about the ignition point, nor is it clear whether the fire started from the fuel system, electrical components, or another system. Based on scene images and the owner's description, the vehicle involved was identified as a white BYD Qin Plus DM-i sedan. Unlike the all-electric Qin Plus EV, the DM-i variant features a large matrix-style grille for cooling the internal combustion engine. The car was equipped with a green license plate, designated for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). The Chengdu fire incident adds to a recent series of events involving BYD vehicles, although the nature of each case varies. In June, a collision between a BYD Qin L plug-in hybrid and a Mazda3 resulted in the Mazda catching fire, while the Qin L's battery pack remained intact. Earlier, in March, a BYD Seal caught fire after a collision in Hong Kong, with the driver escaping before the cabin was consumed by flames. Despite BYD's continuous launch of new models, the Qin Plus series maintains its position as one of the company's best-selling lines. June figures from China EV DataTracker show the Qin Plus EV series sold 13,726 units, ranking fourth among BYD's products and accounting for 7.7% of the company's total sales. It followed the Yuan UP (17,945 units), Song Pro DM-i (17,439 units), and Sealion 06 (16,843 units), but surpassed the Dolphin (13,005 units).