LOS ANGELES, CA – An electric SUV caught fire and exploded early Sunday morning at Faraday Future’s Los Angeles headquarters, causing significant damage to the building but resulting in no injuries, according to company officials and fire department records.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of a vehicle fire at 4:37 a.m. local time on September 28. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 5:17 a.m., preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent structures. The incident occurred in a two-story building located next to the company’s main headquarters facility.
John Schilling, Faraday Future’s communications director, confirmed the incident in a statement. “We are aware of a fire at our facility yesterday, there were no injuries to FF staff, and no evacuation was required,” Schilling said. The company has not disclosed which vehicle model caught fire or what may have triggered the incident.
Following the fire, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety inspected the damaged structure and issued a “red tag” designation, deeming the building unfit for occupation. The extent of structural damage and timeline for potential repairs remain unclear.
Fire department officials stated that investigators have not identified any “human factors” that may have contributed to the blaze. The specific cause remains under investigation, with officials examining whether a battery malfunction or other mechanical failure sparked the fire.
The incident comes at a challenging time for the struggling electric vehicle manufacturer. Faraday Future has faced financial difficulties for years and has delivered only around a dozen of its FF91 luxury SUVs since beginning production in 2023. The company’s lease on the damaged property was set to expire at the end of September.
Commercial real estate firm CBRE is currently advertising the property for lease, suggesting Faraday Future may be relocating or consolidating operations. The company has not commented on its facility plans following the fire.
Electric vehicle fires, while relatively rare, have drawn increased scrutiny from safety regulators and the automotive industry. Lithium-ion battery fires can be particularly challenging to extinguish and may reignite hours after initial suppression efforts.
Faraday Future, founded in 2014, positioned itself as a competitor to Tesla and other luxury electric vehicle makers. However, the company has struggled with production delays, executive departures, and ongoing financial instability. The fire represents another setback for the embattled automaker as it attempts to scale production and establish itself in the competitive EV market.
No timeline has been announced for when operations at the facility might resume or whether production of the FF91 has been affected by the incident.
