Li Auto's Li MEGA. (Visual China file photo)
Li Auto has publicly responded to the fire incident and recall of its Shanghai MEGA vehicle.
On October 31, Li Auto issued a statement saying that on the evening of October 23, 2025, a fire occurred in a Li Auto MEGA 2024 model vehicle in Shanghai, which has attracted close attention from users, the media, and the public. The company expressed its sincere apologies to the vehicle owner and its understanding of the concerns and anxieties of its users.
Subsequently, Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, also reposted the message and stated, "This recall is a voluntary recall. Accident investigations take time, sometimes one or two months. We have already discovered the hidden dangers that caused the accident, and we cannot wait for a one in ten thousand risk. An accident may be one in ten thousand, but life is only once, it is one hundred percent."
Li Auto stated that after the incident, it contacted the vehicle owner immediately and actively cooperated with relevant departments in the investigation. Because the inspection and testing of the accident vehicle requires joint efforts from the user, fire department, and relevant agencies, this process must follow strict procedures and is time-consuming. As of now, no final technical conclusion has been reached .
Meanwhile, Li Auto immediately launched an internal investigation and analysis, and reviewed the records of the cloud-based early warning system and special verification data. The results showed that in the Li Auto MEGA 2024 vehicles from the same batch as the accident vehicle, the coolant in this batch had insufficient anti-corrosion performance. Under certain conditions, this could lead to corrosion and leakage of the cooling aluminum plates of the power battery and front motor controller in the cooling circuit, causing the vehicle to experience malfunction indicators, limited power, and inability to power on. In extreme cases, it could cause thermal runaway of the power battery , posing a safety hazard.
According to the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation, on the 31st, Li Auto voluntarily filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance with the requirements of the "Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products" and the "Implementation Measures of the Regulations on the Recall of Defective Automobile Products".
"Safety has always been Li Auto's top priority. Adhering to the principle of being highly responsible for user safety and having zero tolerance for potential hazards, we have proactively filed a recall plan with the State Administration for Market Regulation to conduct safety inspections and replace/repair all Li MEGA 2024 vehicles from the same batch as the accident vehicle. We will go all out to investigate and eliminate every risk, ensuring zero hidden dangers and resolutely safeguarding the vehicle safety of every user," Li Auto stated.
In addition, Rational Auto revealed more details about the accident and recall:
"In fact, our cloud-based early warning system had received relevant alerts about four hours before the vehicle caught fire, and our staff contacted the owner and driver immediately . However, since there had never been a case of a fire caused by a non-collision incident before, we were unable to take emergency measures immediately, which resulted in missing the best opportunity to intervene in advance."
Li Auto stated that this accident served as a wake-up call, exposing shortcomings in its ability to anticipate and respond decisively to unprecedented, low-probability risk scenarios. Moving forward, the company will strengthen training and support for its frontline teams to enhance the risk identification and decision-making capabilities of both on-site and remote staff. It will also optimize its cloud-based early warning system, enabling it to more decisively guide drivers to pull over and arrange for roadside assistance and other emergency measures when critical signals are detected.
Previously, a statement circulating online indicated that a Shanghai law firm, commissioned by its client, issued a formal statement regarding the spontaneous combustion incident of an Li Auto MEGA vehicle. The statement mentioned that the driver and the client (who was in the second row at the time) quickly took emergency measures to escape the vehicle. During the escape, the rear electric door could not be opened immediately, but the client successfully escaped through the front passenger door.
The Paper reporter attempted to verify the authenticity of the statement through various channels but received no response.
Li Auto responded that the low-voltage power supply for Li MEGA's functions such as door lock opening and window raising and lowering is located in the center armrest area of the driver's cabin. This location can ensure that the vehicle will not lose power in extreme situations such as collisions, so as to support users in emergency operations such as unlocking and opening doors.
Li Auto stated, " After the accident, the vehicle automatically unlocked . Furthermore, Li Auto vehicles are equipped with mechanical emergency handles in both the front and rear rows, ensuring that occupants can unlock and exit the vehicle even in extreme circumstances."