Fire, frustration, and legal flames: Duy Manh vs. Mercedes-Benz

As the police cite short circuit, Mercedes blames rodents; the singer turns to court for justice.

Mercedes-Benz Vietnam (MBV) has officially responded to controversy surrounding a fire that destroyed a luxury sedan owned by singer Duy Manh, clarifying that the viral quote “the rat is criminally responsible” did not originate from the company.


Left: The Mercedes-Benz S 450 L belonging to singer Duy Manh. (Photo: FBNV)

Right: Scene of the fire captured on CCTV from the apartment basement. (Screenshot)

MBV confirmed that the vehicle involved in the incident, referenced by the Hai Phong-born singer, is a Mercedes-Benz S 450 L bearing license plate number 51H-352.92. The car caught fire on the night of February 15, 2023, while parked in the basement of a residential building in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the automaker, a thorough inspection was conducted immediately after the fire, involving MBV technicians, the local dealership, and independent experts, with the participation of the car owner and relevant parties. This evaluation, conducted publicly, concluded that the fire resulted from rodent intrusion and not from any technical fault with the vehicle.

MBV denied making or authorizing the controversial statement that “the rat is criminally responsible,” which was quoted by Duy Manh in a Facebook post that stirred heated debate. The automaker emphasized it did not issue such a comment nor authorize any party to represent the brand in that manner.

MBV added that the vehicle’s insurance provider also shared the same assessment of the cause of the fire as MBV. As a result, the insurer has agreed to proceed with compensation in accordance with standard insurance claim procedures. To date, the case is being handled by authorities in accordance with legal procedures.

Official investigation finds electrical fault

The incident first came to public attention on April 22, when singer Duy Manh shared the full chronology of the fire on his verified Facebook page. He purchased the luxury Mercedes-Benz S 450 L for over 5 billion VND (approximately $210,000) in 2020. The vehicle suddenly caught fire while parked, with building security unable to open the doors or hood to extinguish the flames. Firefighters and local police eventually managed to bring the blaze under control and moved the vehicle to a secured impound for investigation.

Upon unsealing the vehicle in the presence of insurance representatives and the manufacturer, the engine compartment was found to be completely charred. Police collected samples for examination and kept the vehicle for nearly a month.

According to Duy Manh, two months later, Thu Duc Police issued an official conclusion that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit: specifically, an arc fault ignited the wiring insulation, which spread to surrounding flammable materials.

However, MBV maintained that evidence of rodent droppings, leaves, and debris in the engine compartment pointed to rodent activity damaging the wires, which they believe ultimately triggered the fire.

Singer files lawsuit demanding over $80,000 in damages

Unconvinced by the automaker’s stance, Duy Manh filed a lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz Vietnam with the People’s Court of Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. The court is scheduled to hear the civil dispute on April 25.

In his filing, Duy Manh demands over 2 billion VND (around $82,000) in compensation, in addition to the 2.9 billion VND ($118,000) already paid by the insurer. He argues that the compensation should allow him to replace the vehicle in full.

“I believe in the police’s conclusion. My car was regularly driven and never left idle for more than two days. The engine bay was always hot, making it highly unlikely for rodents to survive there, let alone leave fresh droppings,” Duy Manh stated.

He emphasized that the car had no system warnings prior to the incident and was completely shut off when the fire broke out. Modern vehicles like the S 450 L, he said, should alert drivers of any overheating or irregularities.

He further criticized the automaker for using traces found after the fire - when the car had been sitting outdoors for over a month - as justification to deny responsibility.

“I didn’t want to escalate things, hoping for a peaceful resolution. But given their irresponsible behavior, I had no choice but to turn to the courts,” he said.

MBV reiterates no fault with the vehicle design

Mercedes-Benz Vietnam clarified that its internal investigation found no technical fault in the vehicle that could have caused the fire. They argue that rodent-related wire damage is a known external risk and is not indicative of product defect.

However, the police forensic report attributes the cause of the fire to an electrical fault, not rodent damage.

About the Mercedes-Benz S 450 L Luxury

The Mercedes-Benz S 450 L Luxury is a full-size luxury sedan, part of the automaker’s flagship S-Class series. The “L” designates a long-wheelbase version, offering expanded rear seat space, often favored by clients with chauffeurs.

It features a 3.0L inline-6 turbocharged engine with EQ Boost mild-hybrid technology, delivering 367 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. The car comes with rear-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic transmission.

In Vietnam, the S 450 L is priced around 5 billion VND, competing directly with the BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, and Lexus LS.

VietBF@ Sưu tập