Mercedes-Benz has issued a new recall in China concerning the risk of fire in the power batteries of some of its vehicles. The recall affects a total of 12,308 locally produced EQA and EQB vehicles with production dates ranging from April 1, 2021, to October 31, 2023. The recall was initiated by Beijing Benz, the German automaker’s joint venture in China, and is set to commence on April 16.
The reason behind the recall is related to issues with battery reliability and control strategy in the battery management system software of the affected vehicles. Fluctuations in the high-voltage battery production process have led to reduced battery reliability, while the existing control strategy of the battery management system software may cause the battery cells to bear excessive loads. These factors increase the risk of internal short circuits in the battery cells, potentially resulting in vehicle fires and posing a safety hazard.
As a precautionary measure before the formal recall measures are implemented, Mercedes-Benz advises users to limit the charging of the vehicles to no more than 80 percent. The German luxury automaker will upgrade the battery management system software of the affected vehicles through authorized dealers to eliminate the safety hazards identified during the defect investigation initiated by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).
The EQA and EQB are two electric SUV models from Mercedes-Benz that are popular in the Chinese market. This is the second recall of the EQ series of electric vehicles in China within the past year. The previous recall, announced on June 21, 2024, affected 2,380 EQ series EVs, including the imported EQS SUV and EQE SUV, due to the risk of the vehicle losing power while driving.
Despite these recalls, Mercedes-Benz remains a top luxury brand in China, often ranking among the best-selling luxury brands alongside other prominent automakers like Li Auto. However, Mercedes-Benz does not disclose its EV sales figures in China and does not appear in the monthly rankings of the top new energy vehicle sales companies published by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
In related news, production of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz CLA in China has been delayed from April to August due to software development issues, according to local media reports. This delay underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of electric vehicles through rigorous testing and quality control measures.
