Tesla rival Nio is recalling around 4,800 vehicles after 3 caught fire

Bryan Logan/Business Insider

• The Chinese electric-vehicle startup Nio is recalling 4,803 ES8 SUVs following reports of three vehicles catching fire.
• The company announced the recall Thursday in a post on its website, saying an issue with an old version of their battery packs had the potential to cause a short circuit.
• Vehicles produced after October 20, 2018, have different battery packs that don’t have the same problem, Nio said.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The Chinese electric-vehicle startup Nio is recalling 4,803 ES8 SUVs following reports of three vehicles catching fire.

The company announced the recall Thursday in a post on its website, saying an issue with an old version of their battery packs had the potential to cause a short circuit. Vehicles produced after October 20, 2018, have different battery packs that don’t have the same problem, Nio said.

Nio intends to replace the batteries in the affected vehicles in the next two months and will compensate customers who have been affected by battery issues.

"NIO would like to sincerely apologize to our users and the public for the trouble caused by the battery safety incidents," the company said.

Read more: Life, death, and spontaneous combustion — here’s why the debate about Tesla fires just got more fierce

The recall is the latest of Nio’s recent troubles, following a $390 million loss during the first quarter, lower-than-expected sales, layoffs, and a decision to continue outsourcing production rather than building a factory.

Tesla has also faced concerns over vehicle fires, though it has taken a more combative approach to the issue, suggesting that media coverage of Tesla fires is misleading. CEO Elon Musk has said the company’s vehicles are less likely to catch fire than gas-powered ones, but data from the National Fire Protection Association suggests the opposite. 

There have been at least 20 reported incidents in which a Tesla has caught fire since 2013. According to The Drive, at least eight Tesla vehicles appear to have caught fire without being involved in an accident.

Earlier this month, Audi recalled its e-tron SUV due to a potential problem with a seal that could allow water into the battery compartment, which could result in a short-circuit or a fire.

NOW WATCH: Ford invested $500M into an electric vehicle startup. Here’s how Rivian is doing exactly what Tesla isn’t.

See Also:

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• Tesla is reportedly trying to make its own battery cells as its relationship with Panasonic becomes more tense
• Self-driving cars may be decades away, but safety features common on Tesla and Toyota vehicles are already saving lives, a new Consumer Reports survey says

SEE ALSO: I drove a $136,000 Porsche Cayenne Turbo to see if it’s still the finest SUV ever made by human hands on planet Earth

Source: Business Insider – mmatousek@businessinsider.com (Mark Matousek)