BMW’s China joint venture, Spotlight Automotive, is issuing a recall for a limited number of Mini electric vehicles (EVs) due to potential safety concerns with the power batteries. This recall, affecting a total of 70 domestically produced Mini EVs, comes as a setback in a fiercely competitive market.
The recall includes 55 Mini Coopers manufactured between June 1, 2024, and August 17, 2024, as well as 15 Mini Acemans produced between January 10, 2024, and September 18, 2024. The issue stems from production process issues in the power batteries, where the anode and cathode plates of some battery cells may shift, leading to excessive self-discharge and potential overheating of the cells, posing a safety risk.
To address the safety hazard, Spotlight Automotive will replace the defective power battery modules in the recalled vehicles at no cost to the owners. Spotlight Automotive, a joint venture between BMW and Great Wall Motor, was established in December 2019 with its headquarters and production base in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, China.
This joint venture represents BMW’s first pure electric vehicle project globally, with an annual production capacity of 160,000 vehicles. The Mini brand offers a range of pure electric vehicles, including models like Mini Cooper, Mini Aceman, Mini JCW, and Mini JCW Aceman.
The recall highlights the importance of quality control in the production process of electric vehicles, ensuring the safety and reliability of these vehicles on the road. With the replacement of the faulty power battery modules, Spotlight Automotive aims to address the issue promptly and uphold its commitment to delivering safe and high-quality electric vehicles to customers.
($1 = RMB 7.1962)
