Felicity Ace disaster: Volkswagen faces lawsuits over car carrier fire
The Volkswagen Group is entangled in multiple lawsuits due to allegations that the fire's ignition originated from an electric Porsche vehicle battery.
9:11 AM EST, March 6, 2024
After ablaze for several days, the car carrier ultimately sank, taking thousands of vehicles. The financial toll from the incident could reach up to $155 million, and this figure could climb further if the company is mandated to compensate the claimants.
Key plaintiffs include the vessel's owner, Mitsui OSK Lines, and Allianz - one of the insurers of the "Felicity Ace." Both contend that the fire resulted from the spontaneous combustion of an electric car's battery. Additionally, they accuse Volkswagen of failing to alert the shipowner about the hazardous materials onboard and the precautions needed.
In their event coverage, Bloomberg sought comments from both the plaintiffs' attorneys and Volkswagen, but all parties declined to respond. Off the record, it's understood that mediation efforts are underway to preempt a costly court battle possibly.
