Leapmotor C11 Catches Fire After Rear-End Crash in Shanghai, No Injuries Reported

SHANGHAI, Sept. 18, 2026— A Leapmotor C11 electric vehicle caught fire following a rear-end collision on a road in Shanghai on Friday morning. The incident caused extensive damage to the vehicle but resulted in no reported injuries.

The accident occurred at around 9 a.m. on Fangsi Road in Sijing Town, Songjiang District, according to local media reports. Police, firefighters and emergency personnel arrived at the scene, and traffic was temporarily restricted while the fire was dealt with.

Vehicle Caught Fire After Rear-End Collision

According to emergency personnel at the scene, the Leapmotor C11 was the rear vehicle involved in the collision. After hitting the vehicle in front, it caught fire and was subsequently engulfed in flames.

Images from the scene showed severe damage to the front section of the vehicle, with much of the front end burned away.

The vehicle that was hit from behind was able to leave the scene. Reports said occupants of both vehicles escaped without injury.

The precise cause of the fire has not yet been established. Available reports have confirmed the sequence of the collision and subsequent fire, but have not established whether the battery, electrical system or another component was responsible.

Traffic Temporarily Restricted

The incident led to a temporary traffic restriction on the affected section of Fangsi Road as firefighters worked to control the flames and emergency crews handled the accident.

The fire was subsequently brought under control and traffic conditions gradually returned to normal.

No fatalities or injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.

Leapmotor C11 Is a Key Model

The vehicle involved was identified as a Leapmotor C11, a mid-size SUV produced by Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor.

The C11 was first launched in 2021 and is offered in both battery-electric and range-extended versions. The latest model has a listed price range of about 143,800 yuan to 159,800 yuan in China, according to media reports.

The model is one of Leapmotor's important products in China's mainstream family SUV market and has contributed to the company's rapid expansion in recent years.

Leapmotor, headquartered in Hangzhou, was founded in 2015 and listed in Hong Kong in 2022. The company focuses on electric vehicles, powertrain technology and intelligent driving systems.

Safety Questions Draw Attention

Vehicle fires following crashes involving new-energy vehicles often attract considerable public attention because of questions surrounding battery safety.

However, a vehicle catching fire after a collision does not by itself establish the cause of the incident. Investigators would need to determine the condition of the battery pack, electrical systems, vehicle structure and other components before drawing conclusions.

For this reason, the Shanghai incident should not be interpreted as evidence of a specific technical defect in the C11 without further investigation.

As of Friday, reports had not provided a detailed official conclusion on the cause of the fire, and further information is expected from the relevant authorities and the automaker.

Investigation Expected to Provide More Details

The Shanghai incident comes as China's electric-vehicle market continues to expand, making vehicle safety and post-crash emergency response increasingly important issues for manufacturers and regulators.

The latest case resulted in significant vehicle damage but no reported casualties. Attention will now focus on the investigation into how the collision occurred, why the vehicle caught fire and whether any battery or electrical-system damage was involved.

Until those findings are released, the confirmed facts remain that a Leapmotor C11 was involved in a rear-end collision in Shanghai on Sept. 18, caught fire afterward, and that no injuries were reported.