Video footage from the scene shows a small personal mobility vehicle being doused by fire crews as thick smoke and flames engulf the vehicle.
Other reports suggest that the open flame has now been extinguished and that no one was injured in the incident.
#AutoGuangzhou2022 gets off to a “fiery” start. The concept from Chinese vehicle design and engineering company IAT that caught fire on the eve of this year’s Guangzhou Auto Show. pic.twitter.com/s2w0s6oQdr
— Lei Xing邢磊 (@leixing77) December 29, 2022
IAT Automobile released a statement saying it is actively investigating the cause of the accident and will provide a formal statement once the cause is determined:
“During the construction of our booth at the auto show, the working area accidentally caught fire for unknown reasons. The open flame has now been extinguished and no one was injured. We are actively investigating the cause of the accident, and a formal statement will be given when the cause is found out.”
China's Sina News reported on the aftermath of the incident. It reports that water stains can be seen around the booth and that the smell of something burning remains in the air. Reporters took photos of the scene, but Time Weekly reports that representatives told them to delete photos after they were observed taking them.
IAT Automobile is a research and development company based in China that largely works as a supplier to other major automotive manufacturers. It was founded in 2007 and has already found itself entrenched in many areas of automotive development, from design to driver assistance technologies.
Source: Jiemian
