A cargo ship carrying thousands of cars sank in February 2022 after a fire onboard, with allegations suggesting a Porsche EV may have caused the blaze. The ship, Felicity Ace, carried luxury vehicles like Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Audis, Porsches, and Volkswagens, all lost at sea.
The purpose-built car carrier sank off the coast of Portugal’s Azores, with the crew rescued but the vehicles lost. Investigations initially pointed to the EVs as the possible cause of the fire. Mitsui OSK Lines, the ship’s operator, faced a $500 million loss and filed lawsuits against Porsche, insurer Allianz, and others, with Volkswagen, Porsche’s parent company, also facing legal action.
The lawsuit alleges the fire started from a Porsche’s lithium-ion battery and accuses VW of not warning about the risks of transporting such vehicles. Despite the case being filed a year ago, court proceedings have stalled over collateral disputes. The incident highlights the potential risks of transporting EVs and raises questions about liability in such situations.
