The spate of fires affecting the Skywell ET5, an electric vehicle model manufactured in China, continues in Turkey. According to the latest reports, another electric car caught fire in the Yüreğir district of Adana, on the country’s southern coast, following similar incidents in other provinces such as Bursa and Aydın. According to Turkish users of the Chinese brand Skywell, at least 16 electric cars have caught fire over the past year.
Fires involving this same model, of which more than 3,000 units have been sold in Türkiye, have been unusually frequent in recent months. Ulu Motor, the Turkish distributor of the Skywell brand in the country, stated in a press release that no common chronic problem had been identified during the vehicles’ manufacturing process.
Possible causes of the Skywell ET5 fires
The company has highlighted several possible causes of the fires, including impact damage to the battery casing, the use of non-standard coolant for the battery, the deterioration of the 12-volt battery due to a lack of regular maintenance, or the unauthorised installation of software to increase the range. However, the occurrence of further fires in this model has raised concerns about the safety of these vehicles, according to reports in the Turkish media.
Speaking to the well-known Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, officials from Ulu Motor stated that, in four of the fires detected, the main battery had previously suffered significant damage to its underside. They also indicated that, in one of the vehicles, bodywork, repairs and repainting had been carried out at an unauthorised workshop without the main battery being removed, shortly before the fire.
Furthermore, they pointed out that five of the electric vehicles that caught fire had inappropriate software installed for use in Turkey. In relation to another fire, they even suggested the possibility that pirated software had been used.
“My car was completely burnt out whilst I was on holiday”
Several Turkish owners of a Skywell ET5, however, maintain the opposite view. These users point out that sales of new vehicles from the brand ceased following the entry into force of Turkish regulations on electric vehicles imported from China, and they complain of a lack of after-sales service since then.
One of the owners affected by the recent fires estated: “My car has never been serviced anywhere other than an authorised service centre. I even took it in for a maintenance service because I was going on holiday. It didn’t have any pirated software installed, nor had any faults been detected. But my car was completely burnt out whilst I was on holiday”.
“When the vehicles were sold to us, we were told they would receive regular updates. However, there are many shortcomings and software issues. The dealer says it’s because of the software; but, as they cannot resolve the problems reported by customers, some users are forced to fend for themselves,” added this owner of the Chinese brand.
The Chinese brand Skywell began marketing its electric SUV model, the ET5, in Turkey in 2023. According to figures from the Turkish Automobile Dealers’ Association (ODMD), a total of 3,279 units of the model were sold in the country between 2023 and 2025. However, following the new regulations passed in Turkey regarding electric cars imported from China, imports of the model were suspended and deliveries also ceased, leading many users to complain about shortcomings in after-sales service.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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