A Faraday Future electric SUV prototype caught fire at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters early Sunday morning, resulting in an explosion that damaged part of the facility, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
The blaze, reported at 4:37 a.m. on September 28, was brought under control within 40 minutes, with no injuries recorded. The fire severely damaged a smaller two-story building adjacent to the main headquarters, prompting the Department of Building and Safety to “red tag” the structure, declaring it unfit for occupancy until repairs are made.
In a statement, Faraday Future’s communications director John Schilling confirmed no staff were harmed and said the cause is still under investigation. The company later posted on X that the vehicle’s battery pack remained “largely undamaged” and was not believed to have started the fire. Possible causes include a short circuit in showroom wiring or a fault in the vehicle’s 12V system.
The vehicle involved was an early engineering prototype, which, according to Faraday, did not meet production-level flammability standards.
The fire comes at a sensitive time for the troubled EV startup. Faraday Future sold its headquarters in 2019 and has since leased it back. Property owner Rexford Industrial attempted to evict the company earlier this year over late rent payments but reached a settlement in April 2024. The lease is currently set to expire in September 2025, and the property is being listed for lease by CBRE.
Faraday Future first unveiled the FF91 SUV in 2017, positioning it as a luxury electric vehicle with advanced range and technology. However, financial struggles and repeated delays meant only a handful were delivered starting in 2023. Most of those deliveries went to celebrities and wealthy clients, though whistleblowers have accused the company of exaggerating sales figures.
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Beyond its flagship SUV, the company is now promoting a more affordable EV van sourced from China while simultaneously exploring crypto-related ventures. Earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued “Wells Notices” to Faraday Future and founder Jia Yueting, signaling possible enforcement action after a three-year investigation.
Fire investigators have not yet determined the official cause of the blaze, but no human involvement has been identified.
