Volvo Recalling Thousands of Electric SUVs Over Battery Pack Fire Risk, Could Cost the Automaker Over $195 Million
After discovering a potential for high-voltage battery packs overheating, Volvo is recalling more than 40,000 of its flagship electric EX30 SUVs. The cost of replacing the battery packs may reach over $195 million.
According to Volvo, which is primarily owned by China’s Geely, 40,323 EX30 Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance vehicles with these high-voltage cells are impacted.
Logistics and repair expenses are not included in the estimated $195 million price tag for Volvo to provide new replacement battery modules.
Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Co., a joint venture supported by Geely, produced the batteries. According to Volvo, the supplier has resolved the issue and will provide the replacement battery cells.
Reuters reports that Volvo is currently contacting the owners of all affected EX30 SUVs to advise them of the next steps. Volvo promised to replace the affected units at no cost, and in the interim, they advised owners to keep charging below 70% to reduce the risk of a fire.
Since December, Volvo has been advising EX30 SUV owners in over a dozen countries, including the United States, Australia, and Brazil, to park their vehicles away from buildings.
For Volvo, which is well-known for the safety of its vehicles, this recall flies in the face of the company’s branding. “Volvo can’t afford a safety issue because that strikes at the heart of their brand,” Andy Palmer, an industry veteran who oversaw the launch of the Nissan Leaf EV in 2010, told Reuters.
It’s not all bad news for Volvo EX30 SUV owners
EX30 SUV owners, as well as anyone who owns a Volvo manufactured as far back as 2020, will soon receive a major software update. According to a report by SlashGear, around 2.5 million Volvo owners will benefit from the update.
The software update will include improvements related to the Volvo Cars App, such as allowing you to link your Volvo ID to your car through the app or a QR code displayed on the center display, enabling access from any device. Additionally, other users will be able to link their accounts.
Two other enhancements include support for Android Automotive OS 13 and the ability to instantly connect to an account when configuring a new car.
The redesigned home screen will now prioritize maps, making it simpler to access widgets and apps. Also, newly designed dynamic shortcuts, such as the parking camera and pre-commute driving modes, will appear only when needed for specific scenarios.
Also, Volvo says that the new navigation arrangement is cleaner than the old one on both screens. The goal of the new design is to facilitate and simplify interactions with the infotainment system.
