The Mahindra BE 6 caught fire on a UP highway, but the battery was safe. Company says a deflated rear tyre caused the blaze while safety systems kicked in.
✨ AI Overview
Mahindra BE 6 Fire: Tyre, Not Battery, Blamed
Summary generated by AI · Reviewed by Gear Choice Team
A Mahindra BE 6 caught fire near Gulaothi, Uttar Pradesh, initially sparking concerns about EV battery safety.
Mahindra's investigation revealed the battery pack and electric motor were completely intact, ruling out a thermal event or battery failure.
The automaker attributed the blaze to a deflated rear-right tyre, which the vehicle was reportedly driven on for nearly 10 minutes.
When I first saw the video of the Mahindra BE 6 on fire, one thing was clear this didn’t look like a typical EV battery fire. A red BE 6 standing on what looks like a highway, completely engulfed in flames. The only real relief? Everyone inside reportedly got out safely.
The incident took place near Gulaothi in Uttar Pradesh. As the video spread on social media, comparisons came quickly Is this another Tata Nexon EV–type incident? Battery failure? Thermal runaway? EV safety under question again. Mahindra, however, chose to explain the incident in detail. And this is where the story takes an unexpected turn.
What Mahindra claims actually happened
According to the automaker, the battery pack and electric motor were completely intact and safe. No thermal event. No internal battery failure. The real wrongdoer, Mahindra says, become a deflated rear-right tyre.
Photo : Mahindra BE 6 on fire near Gulaothi, UP battery safe, tyre caused blaze.
Their investigation found out that the BE 6 turned into pushed for nearly 10 minutes at speeds of as much as 60 km/h, in spite of the tyre being deflated. During this time, the vehicle reportedly issued more than one warnings, which include tyre stress signals and excessive tyre temperature notifications. Yet, the automobile continued transferring.
Where matters commenced going incorrect
Driving with a deflated tyre reasons intense warmth buildup In this case, that heat kept rising. Mahindra states that:
Stability control and traction control systems were repeatedly activated to limit wheel spin
The electronics tried to compensate for the compromised tyre
As a safety measure, vehicle speed was electronically limited
Eventually, the entire drive system was shut down, bringing the BE 6 to a complete stop
By then, the damage had already been done. After reviewing video footage from the scene, Mahindra claims the fire originated from the rear-right tyre, not the battery or motor compartment.
EV fire or prolonged misuse?
This distinction matters. Because every EV fire is quickly labelled a battery explosion. But this case, if Mahindra’s findings are accurate, points to mechanical failure combined with prolonged driving under unsafe conditions.
A deflated tyre, high speeds, and continued driving for 10 minutes is a recipe for excessive heat. And when rubber burns, it can easily look like an EV battery fire on camera.
The uncomfortable question
There’s one question that can’t be ignored If the car was throwing repeated warnings, why wasn’t it stopped sooner?
EV or ICE, driving with a deflated tyre is never safe. In an EV, the risk multiplies because electronic systems keep working overtime to compensate.
The positives
All occupants were safe
The battery and motor remained unaffected
Safety systems worked as designed till the very end
The negatives
Warning alerts were ignored
A basic tyre issue escalated into a full-blown fire
This wasn’t EV technology failing. If anything, it looks more like human judgement failing first.
Calling this incident proof that Mahindra EVs are unsafe would be unfair. At the same time, pretending driver responsibility doesn’t matter would be equally wrong.
Mansi AryaMansi Arya serves as an editor at GearChoice.in, where she oversees content strategy and production within the digital gear and tech space. With a strong foundation in digital marketing and social media strategy, she brings both editorial direction and promotional insight to the platform.