Volkswagen finds itself entangled in legal proceedings in Germany over the Felicity Ace incident, where a Porsche electric vehicle, suspected to be a Taycan, is alleged to have sparked the catastrophic fire that led to the sinking of numerous luxury vehicles in 2022.
According to reports from Bloomberg, legal action has been initiated by various plaintiffs, including ship operator Mitsui OSK Lines and Allianz SE, an insurer for the damaged car carrier.
A tribunal spokesperson revealed that one of the lawsuits was filed in 2023, with proceedings temporarily halted due to mediation discussions linked to a second court case.
However, unless a settlement is reached, both cases are expected to proceed. The plaintiffs assert that the fire originated from the lithium-ion battery of a Porsche electric vehicle and claim that Volkswagen failed to adequately inform them about the risks associated with transporting electric cars and the necessary safety measures.
Judges overseeing the lawsuits have yet to examine the evidence, as involved parties are still finalizing required procedural aspects before the cases can advance. While Volkswagen has acknowledged the existence of these legal actions, the company has refrained from providing further comments on the matter.
In February 2022, the Felicity Ace vessel caught fire near the Azores archipelago, prompting a Portuguese navy rescue operation to save the crew.
Despite their efforts, the ship, carrying millions of dollars worth of vehicles from VW Group brands, including over 1,000 Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys, succumbed to the blaze, resulting in the loss of around 4,000 vehicles.
The total damages from the incident are estimated to be approximately $500 million. Following the fire, Mitsui OSK Lines announced a suspension of the transportation of used electric vehicles, while hybrids would continue to be permitted on its car carriers.
In a related incident last year, the Fremantle Highway cargo ship also experienced a fire, leading to the destruction of thousands of vehicles.
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