An electric SUV from Faraday Future ignited at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters early Sunday, resulting in an explosion that damaged part of a wall, according to the fire department’s statement to TechCrunch.
Firefighters managed to put out the blaze within 40 minutes, and no one was hurt. The affected building—a smaller, two-story structure adjacent to the main headquarters (shown above)—sustained such significant damage that the city’s Department of Building and Safety has issued a “red tag,” indicating that structural repairs may be necessary before it can be used again.
“We are aware that a fire occurred at our site yesterday. No FF employees were injured, there was no need for evacuation, and the exact source and cause of the fire are still being looked into,” John Schilling, Faraday Future’s communications director, said in an email to TechCrunch.
This incident comes at a challenging moment for Faraday Future, as the company’s long-term use of its headquarters—which it has occupied for ten years—is now in question.
The startup, which has faced ongoing financial difficulties, sold the property in 2019 to raise funds and has been leasing it since then. In February 2024, the current owner, Rexford Industrial, filed a lawsuit to evict Faraday Future over overdue rent payments. The dispute was resolved in April 2024. At the time of the agreement, the lease was scheduled to end in September 2025.
When asked, Schilling said he did not know the present status of Faraday Future’s lease. The site, including both the main building and the one affected by the fire, is currently being marketed for lease by commercial real estate firm CBRE. Representatives from CBRE and Rexford have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The fire was initially reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) at 4:37 a.m. local time on September 28. LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey told TechCrunch that the 911 call was made by a witness. The building’s sprinkler system helped contain the flames until firefighters arrived. According to a photo reviewed by TechCrunch, the explosion caused a significant bulge in at least one wall.
Upon arrival, firefighters had to break in to tackle the fire, Humphrey said. The flames were fully put out by 5:17 a.m.
The precise cause and origin of the FF91 SUV fire remain undetermined, Humphrey noted, adding that investigators have not found evidence of “human factors.” The FF91 SUV was being showcased in the office area.
After the fire was put out, an inspector from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety assessed the building and deemed it unsafe for occupancy.
Faraday Future first introduced the FF91 SUV in 2017, promoting it as a high-end electric vehicle with exceptional range. However, the company soon faced repeated financial setbacks and only began producing its first few SUVs in 2023.
Since then, just over a dozen FF91s have been delivered to celebrities and wealthy buyers, though whistleblowers within the company have accused Faraday Future of exaggerating these sales.
Currently, the company is marketing a more budget-friendly electric van, which appears to be imported from China, and is also attempting to launch a business focused on cryptocurrency. Earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued “Wells Notices” to Faraday Future and its founder Jia Yueting, among others, signaling that the agency is preparing to take legal action against the company after a three-year probe.
