The head of Mercedes-Benz in South Korea, Mathias Vaitl, is set to meet with residents of an apartment complex damaged by a fire that started in one of its electric vehicles (EVs) on Wednesday.
The meeting, which would be held in private, which came as public safety fears grow following the incident.
The fire, which burned for over eight hours, has sparked consumer fears about EVs, particularly in South Korea where many people live in apartments with parking lots below.
“The incident has likely exacerbated existing concerns about EV safety,” a source said.
In response to the incident, government officials will hold a series of meetings this week to draw up measures to prevent such fires from occurring in the future.
Mercedes-Benz Korea has stated that it is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the fire and would offer free inspections for EV owners.
“We are taking this incident very seriously and are committed to ensuring the safety of our customers,” a company spokesperson said.
The meeting between Vaitl and the residents is seen as a step towards addressing the concerns of those affected and reassuring the public about the safety of EVs.
As the use of electric vehicles continues to grow, manufacturers and governments are under pressure to ensure that they are safe and reliable.
The incident in Incheon has highlighted the need for increased safety measures and emergency response plans to prevent such fires from occurring in the future.
Boluwatife Enome
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