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Mahindra’s probe into the BE6 fire incident in Uttar Pradesh rules out battery or motor failure, identifying overheating from a deflated rear tyre as the cause.
Mahindra stated that all safety systems functioned as intended during the incident.
The incident occurred in the Gulauthi area of Uttar Pradesh, where a Mahindra BE6 was seen engulfed in flames on the side of the road. Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, triggering speculation about a possible battery-related failure in the electric SUV. Mahindra has now concluded its internal investigation and shared its findings.
Investigation and safety response
According to Mahindra & Mahindra, the investigation was carried out using onboard sensor data, vehicle software diagnostics and an analysis of video footage recorded by bystanders at the scene. The company said all occupants of the vehicle managed to exit safely, and no injuries were reported.
Mahindra stated that all safety systems functioned as intended during the incident. Data shows that the vehicle issued a tyre high-temperature alert, following which multiple protective measures were activated. These included limiting vehicle speed and initiating a system shutdown to safely bring the car to a halt.
Battery and motor found intact
Crucially, Mahindra confirmed that the high-voltage battery pack remained intact and fully functional despite exposure to extreme heat. Battery health parameters and individual cell voltages were found to be within specified limits, and the electric motor also showed no signs of damage.
The investigation revealed that the BE6 had been driven for over 10 minutes at around 60 km/h on a fully deflated rear right tyre, despite repeated tyre pressure warnings being displayed. Onboard data further indicates that the ESP and traction control systems were actively intervening to manage wheel spin caused by the deflated tyre.
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Tyre failure identified as root cause
Mahindra explained that prolonged driving on the deflated tyre led to excessive friction between the tyre rubber and the road surface. This resulted in a rear right wheel high-temperature alert being triggered. Analysis of the circulating video footage corroborated this finding, confirming that the fire originated from the rear right tyre rather than any electrical component.
The company concluded that the fire was caused by intense thermal stress generated externally due to tyre failure, and not by the battery or propulsion system. Mahindra reiterated that the vehicle’s core electric systems remained unaffected throughout the incident.
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